The opening speeches of the refinery in San Nicholas were interesting, especially the one by the man with the red guayabera. He is very charismatic, and he gave a high-energy speech, in the spirit of the revolution. While the rest of the Venezuelan delegation wore white, he wore red, and talked about socialism, the enlighted government of the Republica Bolivariana; he mentioned doctrine, Simon Bolivar, Chavez, the flag, and the Mother Country, delivering a pure political speech, peppered with many left-wing Chavimo sound bites, which meant to reassure us he will be contributing to this island’s happiness factor.
I beg to differ. I will never put a man in a red guayabera, who talks about socialism, in charge of my own happiness. But I wouldn’t mind having direct delivery of cooking gas to my home, and a gas operated car, as promised in his speech!
I have one question: Where was the MinPres. His conspicuous absence was noted. The opening ceremony of the refinery was supposed to be the crowning glory of his term in government, and he was nowhere to be seen. I did not see the MinEdu, she stayed away. Smart. Twenty years from now, when we scrutinize the pictures, they will be able to say, see, we were nowhere to be found; we knew it was a bad idea.
The man with the red guayabera, Jesus Luongo, also used the PDVSA refinery in Curacao as an example of his company’s excellent, long term management and commitment, with thirty one years on that island, helping improve that neighboring country.
Jesus, you must be kiddin’. If only from an air pollution viewpoint. There is a lot of evidence to suggest that Curacao is not happy with the Isla Refinery stuck in its throat. And there is a mountain in evidence to suggest that you have not been doing a good job in Venezuela.
We heard some talk about gas, and reduced emissions, and a lot about the socio-economic ties between Venezuela and Aruba, practically sister-countries. It gave me a bit of shudder, while I love arepas, I wouldn’t want to convert Aruba into a mini Venezuela.
Bottom line, I am not jealous of Alvin Koolman’s job, in charge of the refinery operation, he can have it, and good luck, I really mean it, good luck.