St. Kitts and Nevis Minister of Public Works, Utilities, Transport and Posts,Dr. the Hon. Earl Asim Martin. (Photo by Erasmus Williams)

BASSETERRE

The proposal was submitted by St. Kitts and Nevis Minister of Public Works, Utilities, Transport and Posts, Dr. the Hon. Earl Asim Martin during discussions in Basseterre last Tuesday with officials from the Venezuelan Embassy in St. Kitts and Caracas, a follow up to the Energy Ministers Meeting in Venezuela.

Dr. Martin and the Head of the Venezuelan Delegation, Engineer Roberto Capriles, agreed in a Letter of Intent that St. Kitts and Nevis would establish a new government-owned and operated company, while both nations would establish a separate joint venture company to administer the activities under the Petro Caribe initiative - PDV Caribe Saint Kitts and Nevis.

 Dr. Martin, on behalf of St. Kitts and Nevis, also proposed the rental of storage facility for 7,000 barrels of oil with the intention to purchase the volumes of diesel oil necessary for the Needsmust Power Plant's generating capacity, as well as the installation of approximately 7,000 to 10,000 barrel tanks for diesel oil at the Needsmust Power Station.

 St. Kitts and Nevis also proposed the setting up of an island distribution system to supply gas, LPG, asphalt, diesel oil and Jet A fuel and the construction of gas stations and an asphalt plant.

The generation of approximately 2,000 jobs to alleviate the unemployment created by the closure of the sugar factory, construction of 350 houses, establishment of an Agricultural Programme and construction of a 25-bed hospital were also discussed.

Participating in the discussions were Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works, Utilities, Transport and Posts, Mr. Raphael Archibald; Financial Consultant, Mr. Wendell Lawrence, St. Kitts and Nevis Ambassador to the Republic of Venezuela, His Excellency Mr. Fred Lam and Venezuela's Resident Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis Her Excellency Miriam Triconiz.