In his column in El Caribe newspaper today, former Central Bank governor and ambassador to Washington, Bernardo Vega warns about the downside of the present practices for purchasing fuel. He explains that given the increases in the price of fuel, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been lending for Dominican purchases at 2% with debt in 25-year term. Vega explains that this is permitting the present government to use its revenues otherwise, and to postpone having to pay for fuel. He explains that this means US$200 million a year in borrowing, which he says is more than the US$150 million World Bank loan for the energy sector. He explains that as a result, some of the pesos that would have gone to pay for fuel are now being used to subsidize the power sector. That is, to avoid passing on the high cost of fuel to the public now, in large part due to the high cost of petroleum. He explains that the present generation is taking on debt that will have to be paid back by future generations.