According to a secret U.S. Embassy cable obtained by Wikileaks and published by Haiti liberte, it revealed that the U.S. government was annoyed by the relationship between Rene Preval and U.S. main opponents in Latin America and the Caribbean. In that, I want to refer to Venezuela and Cuba.


According to Wikileaks, when Rene Preval signed the deal with PetroCaribe to buy fuel at a preferential rate, The U.S. government attempted many things to prevent the deal from taking effect although the deal would save Haiti at least $100 million a year.


Haiti would buy oil from PetroCaribe where Haiti would only give 60% in advance, with the remaining to be paid within a period of 25 years at 1% interest rate.


The Cable stated that on May 14, 2006, immediately after his inauguration, Rene Preval signed the PetroCaribe agreement with Jose Vincente Rangel, the Vice President of Venezuela. The pressure started immediately from the U.S. Embassy.

The U.S. embassy was also concerned about how Rene Preval would use the extra income that the deal with PetroCaribe would generate. They were afraid that Preval would use the money to fund special presidential development projects.

The American companies Texaco and Esso opposed to the idea although it was estimated that it would ensure adequate fuel for EDH to power its electrical plant without relying on oil companies that would charge much more.

For the complete article, click here:

http://www.canadahaitiaction.ca/content/wikileaks-how-washington-and-big-oil-fought-petrocaribe-haiti