RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE 5th MEETING OF THE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL OF PETROCARIBE

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
June 11, 2009

PREAMBLE

1. CONSIDERING the achievement and the progress obtained in the implementation of Resolution N° 04.03-05 of the V Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of PETROCARIBE, Maracaibo, July 13, 2008, which have contributed to strengthen the  Organization;

2. NOTING that through the design and implementation of joint infrastructure projects in the fields of oil, gas, electricity, renewable and alternative energies, PETROCARIBE moves forward to energy security thus reducing the effects of the world financial crisis  on the member countries’ economies;

3. CONSIDERING the PETROCARIBE Energy Security Agreement, signed on August 11, 2007, which represents an encompassing and sustained process of integration contributing to energy security for the Caribbean;

4. INSPIRED by Resolution 03.02.-04 adopted by the 3rd  Meeting of the PETROCARIBE Ministerial Council in Cienfuegos, Cuba in 2007 and Resolution 04.03.05 approved at the 4th Extraordinary Meeting of the PETROCARIBE Ministerial Council, in Maracaibo, Venezuela in 2008;

The Heads of Delegation of the PETROCARIBE Ministerial Council adopt:

Resolution 05.08-06

To welcome Venezuela’s offer to house the permanent venue of the PETROCARIBE Executive Secretariat in the city of Caracas. In this respect, member countries commit themselves to designate rotational representatives, with a view to ensuring the planning and implementation of the projects identified by the Technical Groups, thus advancing in the establishment of common policies in these areas.  Likewise, they approve the proposal to establish the necessary mechanisms to strengthen the Executive Secretariat, in the understanding that resources needed for its operation and functioning will be provided by PDV Caribe.

Resolution 05.09-06

To approve the attached Compensation Mechanism for the Financing of the Oil Bill with Goods and Services, submitted by the Executive Secretariat, for the purpose of promoting compensation as an alternative  to honour commitments, fostering the access of small- and medium-size producers to trade, as well as taking advantage of the economic potential of the PETROCARIBE member countries,  based on the principles of cooperation, complementarity, solidarity, equity, sovereignty  and conservationism in line with the relevant domestic procedures.

Resolution 05.10-06

To instruct the Petrochemistry Technical Group, as part of the studies they are conducting, to evaluate the use of local raw materials from the member countries in the production of fertilizers. Likewise, to design a scheme for continuous supply of urea, to meet the demand of member countries, through the signing of bilateral agreements within framework of PETROCARIBE.

Resolution 05.11-06

To support the progress attained in the application of the Auditing and Verification Mechanism, which has contributed to the strengthening of our cooperation mechanism and development of social projects of the ALBA-Caribe Fund. In this respect, to instruct the Auditor General of PETROCARIBE to continue implementing this mechanism in the rest of the countries, for which the member countries agree to nominate before the General Secretariat the auditors that might be necessary in the different revision stages. 

Resolution 05.12-06

To approve the implementation of the Courses Catalogue for the second half of 2009, as presented by the Executive Secretariat for the training and education of professionals and technicians in energy subjects. Likewise, the member countries welcomed Venezuela’s proposal to designate young professionals and technicians to start the training programs in all fields of the oil industry. In this respect, the relevant Technical Group was instructed to study and propose a program for the certification of PETROCARIBE operators so that it can serve as a protocol for the free exercise of the certified professionals within the member countries.

Resolution 05.13-06

To approve the 2008-2009 Communication Strategy, in the terms proposed by the Executive Secretariat.  In this respect, the funds required for the operation of the official website, the publication of the two-monthly bulletin and the Graphic Identity Manual are approved. Likewise, the Communication Group is urged to deepen and accelerate the dissemination of the PETROCARIBE achievements and the consolidation of the institutional image at all possible levels.

Resolution 05.14-06

To approve the annexed Timetable of Activities for implementation of the Master Plan for Gas Supply to the Caribbean under the terms proposed by the Executive Secretariat, which envisages all transport possibilities as may be necessary to meet the requirements of the member countries. We likewise approve the beginning of pilot projects for gas supply, to be located in Haiti, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica.

Resolution 05.15-06

To instruct the Technical Groups for Conservation and Efficient Use of Energy and for Renewable Energy to reassess the portfolio of projects approved in Resolution No. 04.03-05 of the Fourth Special Meeting of the Ministerial Council, based on the study of Energy Trends in the Caribbean, to ensure a more balanced and equitable distribution of the projects among member countries.

Resolution 05.16-06

To approve the conceptual bases of the proposal presented by the Venezuelan delegation for establishing a PETROCARIBE Integrated Fund, to be provided by the financed portion of the oil bill through the ALBA Bank, following the principles of solidarity, complementarity and respect for the countries’ sovereignty. Likewise, to submit for the consideration of the VI Summit of Heads of State and/or Government of PETROCARIBE the financing mechanism developed on the basis of those principles. In this regard, we agree to form working groups entrusted with the structuring of the technical, financial and legal processes necessary for the transition to this new scheme, whose results will be submitted to the Heads of State and/or Government of PETROCARIBE within a three month period.

Joan H. Underwood
Ambassador Delegate of Antigua and Barbuda

Erwin Contreras
Minister of Economy and Development of Belize

Yadira Garcia
Minister of the Basic Industry of the Republic of Cuba

Reginald Austrie
Minister for PETROCARIBE Affairs, Housing and Land of the Commonwealth of Dominica

Vicente Bengoa
Secretary of State for Finance of the Dominican Republic

Jerome  Joseph
President of Petrocaribe LTD

Alfredo Pokus
Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Guatemala

Samuel Hinds
Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana

Alrich Nicolas
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Haiti

Lucy Bu de Bueso
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade and Executive Secretary of the Oil Management Commission of the Republic of Honduras

James Robertson
 Minister of Energy and Mining of Jamaica

Francisco López
President of PETRONIC and Vice-President of ALBANIZA of the Republic of Nicaragua

Rufus Bousquet
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment of St. Lucia

Earl Asim Martin
Minister of Energy of St. Kitts and Nevis

Vicent Beache
Security Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Gregory Rusland
Minister of Energy of the Republic of Suriname

Rafael Ramírez 
Minister of the People’s Power for Energy and Oil of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela