Venezuela Information Office
2000 P Street NW, Suite 240
Washington, DC 20036
Voice: (202) 347-8081
Fax: (202) 347-8091
What
People are Saying about the
CITGO-Venezuela Heating Oil Program
“Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez is a controversial political leader, but it’s difficult to fault his decision to provide low-cost heating oil to 45,000 needy families in Massachusetts… Venezuelan politics and policies are matters for the Venezuelans to sort out. For now, the people of Massachusetts can recognize the self-interest but applaud the generosity.”
Boston
Globe editorial
“Venezuela’s Largesse”, Nov 23,
2005
“If Chávez and CITGO can forgo a small portion of Venezuela’s windfall oil profits to make life a little easier for America’s poor, what are our own oil companies and our leaders in Washington doing?”
Juan
Gonzalez, New York Daily News columnist
“Warmth for Poor Consumers”, Dec 6 2005
"We're for corporate philanthropy, and if that's what he [Chavez] chooses to do,
we're certainly not going to argue with him."
Sam
Bodman, U.S. Secretary of Energy
“Energy Secretary: Gulf oil, natural gas won't
recover until summer 2006” by
Deb Riechmann, AP, Dec 8, 2005
“Ambassador Brownfield applauded CITGO’s decision to provide discounted heating oil to communities in the U.S. and thanked the Venezuelan government for this initiative.”[1]
U.S.
Ambassador to Venezuela William Brownfield
“Ambassador Brownfield Hopes
Nations can Tone Down Rhetoric”, Globovision, Dec 15, 2006
“I’m delighted that we’ll be able to purchase oil at a lower price than the market for our citizens.”
Massachusetts
Governor Mitt Romney (R)
“Venezuela's oil deal with Mass.
draws heat” by Andrew Miga, AP, Dec 1, 2005
“We need to repair our relations with that nation
[Venezuela]”
Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R- RI), discussing CITGO heating oil initiative possibilities in R.I.
“Venezuela, R.I.
may strike deal on discounted oil” by John Mulligan, Providence Journal,
Dec 14 2005
"I will not take the position of opposing this program, because I don’t… Actually I am pleased with this gesture… What would be an adverse impact would be if people who are uncomfortable with Venezuelan politics simply say that this is a bad thing…"[2]
Sen.
Richard Lugar (R- IN)
“Senador Republicano Insta a EE.UU Mejorar
Relaciones con Venezuela”, El Universal, Dec 7, 2005
''The cost of heating oil has risen dramatically and the federal government has failed to provide the resources needed to help Maine citizens. We are grateful to Citgo and the Venezuelan government for their generosity,”
Gov.
John Baldacci (D-ME)
“Maine, Venezuela reach oil deal”
by Tom Bell, Portland Press Herald, Jan 11, 2006
“Given the recent cuts to federal energy
assistance programs, the Baldacci administration would have been remiss if it
didn't pursue the deep discount on home heating oil given to Massachusetts by
Venezuela's leader, Hugo Chavez.”
Portland
Press Herald (ME) Editorial
Venezuela’s Chavez
an Unlikely Santa, Nov 28, 2005
“This generous offer [by Venezuela-CITGO] is especially welcome because Washington has been unable to act on what is a clear necessity for the poor.”
Bangor
Daily News Editorial
Help From CITGO, Jan 12, 2006
“With temperatures dropping and oil prices soaring, we’re all worried sick about people without the means to heat their homes. It is gratifying that at least one major oil company is willing to step up.”
U.S. Rep. William Delahunt (D- MA)
Press
release, Nov 22, 2005
www.house.gov/delahunt/citgodeal.htm
“Low-income residents of my district who will benefit from this historic agreement are going to see real savings. We are truly grateful to CITGO and the Venezuelan people for their generosity.”
U.S.
Rep José Serrano (D-NY)
Press release, Dec 6, 2005
www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ny16_serrano/051206heatingoil.html
“This allows us to save, depending on how the weather fares, $400,000 to $500,000 for the winter. We can save and then pass on some of that on to our tenants, who are very much under financial pressure.”
Shaun M. Belle, president of Mount Hope, a Bronx
non-profit housing association
“Venezuela to Help Bronx Residents with
Heating Oil Bills” by Manny Fernandez and Juan Forero, New York Times, Dec 6,
2005
“Nobody asks any of these questions to Saudi Arabia. Nobody asks any of these questions to Kuwait. Nobody asks any of these questions to Iran, Iraq or Azerbaijan or any of the other countries we get oil from.[In Venezuela,] you have a country led by somebody who cares for the poor… I wrote every single oil company asking them to give us a little break on the price of oil after they made tens of billions, if not hundreds of billions of dollars in one quarter. I didn’t hear back from one of them. The only one that came back was CITGO.”
Joseph
P. Kennedy II, Chairman, Citizens Energy Corporation[3]
“Fuel pact defended at local signing” By Raja Mishra, Boston Globe, Nov 23,
2005
“It’s more than saving money, he’s reaching out to poor people. It’s an act of charity.”
Father
John Jenik, Our Lady of Refuge Church, located in the South Bronx
”Venezuela provides heating oil to New Yorkers in
low-income area” by Paul Burkhardt, AP,
Dec 6, 2005
"It's ironic that a South American
country is coming to the rescue of poor people in Philadelphia, but the issue is
whether you freeze to death in winter. No one, Democrat or conservative
Republican, should raise questions about where it comes from, but should
applaud it."
Jonathan Stein, general counsel of Community Legal Services
(Philadelphia)
“Philadelphia’s
Unlikely Energy Source” by Thomas Fitzgerald, Philadelphia Inquirer,
Jan 27, 2006
“Why would it matter where [the oil] comes from? Venezuela is doing a good thing for people.”
Bridget
Durkin, age 70, Quincy, MA resident
“Venezuela's
oil deal with Mass. draws heat” by Andrew Miga, AP, Dec 1,
2005
“Just because he [President Hugo Chávez] has problems with President Bush, that’s not going to affect me… My political views aren’t going to keep me warm. I know people keep talking about this, but it’s a gesture that someone wanted to make, and it’s going to help lots of people, not just me.”
Linda
Kelly, Quincy, MA resident
“Oil Deal is Her Lifeline,” by
Adrian Walker, Boston Globe, Nov 24, 2005
“I appreciate what he did, not for me only, but for everybody… Sometimes it’s so cold that you have to put two blankets on you, so that you can stay warm.”
Georgina
Colón, South Bronx resident
News at 6pm, Fox 5 WNYW, Dec 6, 2005
"It keeps people warm, regardless of where it came from. There are 48,000 people in Maine who need this oil. Take the politics out of it."
Malcolm
Lyons, age 89, a retired hunting guide and program recipient
“Oil in Tank, Politics in Driveway” by Tom Bell,
Portland Press Herald, Jan 13, 2006
"We have Passamaquoddys we've had to refuse [help with
heating oil to] in the past. There's never enough. This help we're getting from
the Venezuelan government is unexpected but deeply appreciated."
Robert Newell, Passamaquoddy
tribe governor at Indian Township, ME
“State, tribes, Citgo sign fuel
deals; Heating oil delivered to needy Mainers” by Bill Trotter,
Bangor Daily News, Jan 13, 2006
“I didn’t even go to stores during the holidays because I knew I didn't have any money
to buy gifts. I have a 2-year-old granddaughter, and I just couldn't get her anything…now
maybe I can"
Gerarldine Sheilds, age 64, Philadelphia
resident
"Venezuela's discounted oil starts rolling into
region," by Adam Fifield, Philadelphia Inquirer,
Jan 29, 2006
"It's an extraordinary savings for poor people. We are pleased that Citgo has the resources to be able to help keep people in New England warm this winter. In Venezuela, as in your country, our indigenous people have been left behind for too long."
Penobscot Tribal Chief James Sappier at Indian Township, ME
“State, tribes, Citgo sign fuel
deals; Heating oil delivered to needy Mainers” by Bill Trotter,
Bangor Daily News, Jan 13, 2006