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Caribbean-Latin America

Sandinistas in Venezuela oil deal

2005-09-20

Nicaragua's left-wing opposition party has announced an agreement to buy Venezuelan oil at preferential rates. Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega said councils governed by the party would be able to buy oil at a 40% discount.

Just one leftist helping another

The rise of global oil prices has caused an energy crisis in Nicaragua which has led to power rationing.
But the government, which did not take part in the deal, is questioning the Sandinistas' access to the proper infrastructure to carry it out.

I can hear the reply now; "If we were only returned to power, we'd be able to give the people cheap oil"

Nicaragua's main energy supplier, Fenosa, began rationing power for up to eight hours a day earlier in September. Fenosa said it was left with no choice after the Supreme Court barred it from raising tariffs to keep up with the price of fuel used to generate electricity in Nicaragua.
President Enrique Bolanos - who is locked in a power struggle with the Sandinistas - said on Monday that he would ask congress to approve rate increases. He also wants congress to allow him to hand over $30m to private energy firms. Under the deal announced by Mr Ortega, a Venezuelan-controlled company will be created in partnership with the municipalities. The company will transport, store and deliver fuel. More than half of Nicaragua's councils are run by Sandinistas and could benefit from the cheaper oil.
Venezuela's Ambassador Miguel Gomez said he hoped similar schemes could be extended to other Central American countries.

"All you have to do is kiss Hugo's ring"

Posted by:Steve

#3 The guy from Guam wants to remind Mr. Chavez and Mr. Chavez's daughter that he along with others of Mr. Reagan's boyz made bloody mincemeat out of Ortega's Sandinista and allied units, and could've done the same to Ortega, etal. himself iff so ordered. THREATEN THE SPAM AND THE HORMEL CORPORATION AND YOU'RE BOTH HISTORY - OH, YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IT, BUT DON'T-T-T DO-O-O-O-O IT!

Posted by: JosephMendiola 2005-09-21 00:04

#2 Couldn't agree less. Chavez isn't looking for client states. He is trying to fulfill Simon Bolivar's dream of a South/Central American superstate. He has said this publically and often. Working with the Sandinistas is just one more step in that direction. Chavez is a very dangerous man. Sooner or later the kid gloves are going to come off and he will simply invade Equador or Columbia. When that happens what we Americans do, or what we fail to do, will have profound consequences for the future.

Do you see President Hillary sending troops to free the Ecuadorans? I sure as hell donât. Neither does Chavez. Look for him to offer the Democrats a sweet (and public) oil deal in the 2008 elections. It is likely (though by no means certain) that they will so far out of power by then that will do nearly anything to get back in. Remember, in the 21st Century access to power production is political power. Chavez has that in spades. He will use it and, from what I have seen so far, he will use it well.

Posted by: Secret Master 2005-09-20 11:55

#1 Nothing wrong with stretching Chavez's resources. Client states are expensive and they they're only as good as the next check.

Posted by: DoDo 2005-09-20 11:27

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