President Leonel Fernandez said yesterday that in addition to flexible
and reduced interest rates, the DR would be able to pay its oil bill
with Venezuela not only in cash but also with goods and services, as
part of the Petro-Caribbean agreement signed Wednesday in that
country. This includes agricultural products and represents relief
for the country affected by rising petroleum prices. The agreement
also eliminates the payment of intermediaries that make more costly
the transport of oil. From now on, fuel supplies from Venezuela will
arrive on board Petro-Caribbean ships which will only charge the cost
of freight. Fernandez said the opportunities for the purchase of
petroleum offered by the government of Venezuela were a very noble and
generous reaction to the problem.