Venezuela comes to Antigua and Barbuda's aid

The Friars Hill APUA Plant

by Sarrah Hadeed
Caribbean Net News Antigua-Barbuda Correspondent
E-mail: sarrahhadeed@yahoo.com 

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua: The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, has heeded a call for help from Antigua and Barbuda as the country grapples with electricity problems which has forced officials to institute a load-shedding schedule that has disrupted regular operations across the mainland.

According to government release, a team of engineers arrived in St. John's over the weekend and are assisting their counterparts at Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) in resolving the power problem. The release pointed out that the South American team's visit is in response to a request from the Antigua & Barbuda Government. 

Just over a months ago, Energy, Communications and Works Minister Wilmouth Daniel, signed the PETROCARIBE Agreement in Caracas which enables "Antigua & Barbuda to purchase Venezuelan fuel under preferential terms which include options for long-term financing." 

The country's electricity problem intensified when generators at the Friars Hill plant went out of commission due to what has been described as "mechanical problems". 

APUA officials told Caribbean Net News that they expect to have everything back to normal shortly.

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