Venezuela to extend and expand U.S. heating oil program

by SF Bay View (reposted)

Fri, May 5, 2006 8:27AM

Caracas, Venezuela - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez announced that the program that provides discounted heating oil to numerous poor communities in the U.S. Northeast will be continued next year. Also, Chavez proposed a new phase of the program, which would help provide employment opportunities in beneficiary communities. Chavez made the announcement during an event on Monday evening, in which he met with a delegation of 80 heating oil program beneficiaries.

The event, which was sponsored by Citgo, the wholly owned subsidiary of the Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA, gave beneficiaries of the heating oil program an opportunity to tell the president about their personal circumstance and how they have benefited from Citgo's heating oil program.

Donna Santiago, a single mother of two from Philadelphia, said: "The United States is a rich and powerful country. However, the assistance that is provided is bureaucratic and inefficient and is often unavailable. Contrast this to my experience with Citgo and PDVSA, which restored dignity and hope to low-income people."

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http://www.sfbayview.com/050306/oilprogram050306.shtml

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