And the fact that Belize sources fuel from Venezuela is part of the reason that prices are so high. It's the last remains of the Petrocaribe program, but it raises the question whether Belize is ultimately being compromised by its close relation to this troubled state? For example, three weeks ago the Permanent Council of the OAS approved a resolution to convene a meeting of OAS Foreign Ministers to consider the situation. Venezuela and its supporters sought to vote down the motion, describing it as an interference in their internal affairs. And CARICOM was very divided on the issue. The Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and St Lucia voted in favour, while Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Haiti, Nicaragua, St Kitts & Nevis, St Vincent & the Grenadines and Suriname voted against, while Belize, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago and El Salvador abstained. The Prime Minister says the government's position on Venezuela is evolving:
Jules Vasques - reporter
"Are we compromised because we are sourcing in hock to the Venezuelans?"
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow- Prime Minister
"No, we are already in hock and making nice to the Venezuelans who make us any less in hock, and if it were up to me I would like to become more in hock. You cannot beat that petrocaribe money. Look, am I not allowed to tell you I told you so? When the social partners were kicking up I said: listen man, let us borrow endlessly because it is so cheap. We could use it to pay off the superbond if it were to continue that long. Now we are missing it. Anyway, the fact is that we get some dribbling still, but as I explained, because they are having problems with security of supply, stability of supply, and because the prices are so low, what we get doesn't amount to much more than a pittance. However, I believe in gratitude and I can't forget that we benefitted handsomely from their largess when things were good. What is happening now in terms of the scarcities and the protests and the response of the government is extremely complex. We in Belize need to consider our position very carefully so that we don't at the first sign of trouble turn our back on our friends but also so that nobody takes us for granted in feeling that no matter what Belize will support any and all actions of the Venezuelan government, no. So we really on a case to case bases, on a moment by moment bases, on a day by day bases, on a week by week bases we keep our position under review."
The OAS vote passed which caused the Venezuelan Government to withdraw from the OAS - a process likely to take two years.
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