CITGO to Continue Supporting and Aiding Program for US Poor Communities
The Bolivarian Government defends strategic lines regarding social aid in Venezuela and overseas. The CITGO program is not an issue of political nature since it demonstrates the company’s social responsibility
President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez Frías, assured that the CITGO program aim to assist US poor people will continue. “I just want the Venezuelan people to be aware of what we are doing by helping the Caribbean, South America, and North America (…) Formerly, CITGO and the Venezuelan money was aimed at presidential electoral campaigns and US congressmen (…) Now it is aimed to help and support poor people. That is the way it should be.” He also said that this initiative is framed within the proposal to form a multi-state energy company called Petroamerica.
This program will benefit 5,000 homes and it will supply oil at a 40 percent discount.
So far, some of the regions that have benefited from this program are Massachusetts, New York, Maine, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Vermont. President Chávez stated on March, 4, that Connecticut governor had reservations about the program and asked help from the region prosecutor office, which informed about the program legality and said it is not an issue of political nature since it is a social aid provided by CITGO, a PDVSA subsidiary.
The Venezuelan President mentioned the program after he received a call from Edgrad Rocero, Ecuadorian citizen residing in Atlanta, Georgia, during his TV and radio show Aló Presidente. Edgar Rocero, also a member of a Christian church, thanked CITGO for its social program and invited President Chávez to continue working to the causes of justice and social claims.
Rocero’s gratitude was also backed up with a video showing testimonies given by US citizens that have been aided by the program implemented by CITGO in some US regions.
Presidential Press/Translated by Cesar Torres
