Venezuela to keep sending free fuel to U.S. poor

[Judi Lynn]

Venezuela to keep sending free fuel to U.S. poor
By IAN JAMES • Associated Press • January 8, 2009

CARACAS, Venezuela – President Hugo Chavez will keep donating heating oil for poor American families in a costly decision that suggests the Venezuelan leader wants to keep to his pledges – and buttress his image – in spite of falling oil prices.

Venezuela's Citgo Petroleum Corp. announced the aid program would continue on Wednesday, just two days after its partner nonprofit group, Boston-based Citizens Energy, said Citgo had halted the free fuel shipments due to the world economic crisis.

~snip~
"He's torn between being the visionary socialist Paul Bunyan and at the same time someone who has some capacity for prudence in terms of evaluating what kinds of burdens his economy can bear," Birns said.

Citgo Chief Executive Alejandro Granado said in Boston on Wednesday that Citgo had found a way to continue paying for oil shipments.

"This is a big effort," Granado said. "This is a sacrifice."

More:
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090108/NEWS/90108048/1006