Politics
In a year and a half, the Venezuelan government has reported on USD 624 million out of the public expenditure for Honduras, according to the latest survey of the Economic Research Center (Cieca).

The financial aid started in January 2008, when the Central American country became a member state of Petrocaribe. That year, based on Cieca's report, Venezuela disclosed the funding of USD 67.71 million. In 2009, USD 215.87, or 50 percent of the oil bill, was added.

In January 2008, the Venezuelan government also aired the pardon of the Honduras debt, amounting to USD 30 million.

ALBA express
Last August, Honduras became the sixth member state of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA).

During the incorporation ceremony held in Tegucigalpa, Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez Frías announced the free-handed aid.

He promised Hondurans that from that moment on, a treaty would protect them and ensure reliable energy supply, "for at least 100 years."

"Honduras is beginning to receive the ALBA benefits, because we, the ALBA commanders, have resolved to grant the Honduras government 100 tractors along with farm implements," he said.

Indeed, as a result of the membership with the regional integration scheme, the Venezuelan government announced in August a financing facility for USD 30 million and the purchase of bonds for houses, for additional USD 100 million.

However, the tractors offered by Chávez failed to arrive soon, and Honduras President José Manuel Zelaya needed to remind him publicly of his promise to send 100 tractors, 65 dredges, 25 seeders and 15 disk harrows

The award ceremony was held in February 2009, San Pedro Sula, Honduras, and was attended by Venezuela's Vice-Minister for Latin American and the Caribbean Francisco Arias Cárdenas.

In October, the Honduras government received four million energy-saving bulbs donated by Venezuelan authorities within the framework of ALBA, amounting to USD 8 million.

"Here is the evidence, it is true," Zelaya told the people at odds with the initiative in Honduras, upon receiving the shipment.

In addition, Venezuela announced a payment for USD 30 million to build the ALBA Municipal Hospital. The Honduras president laid the foundation stone last April, together with Ambassadors Juan Carlos Hernández, of Cuba; Mario Duarte, of Nicaragua and Ariel Vargas, of Venezuela.

Translated by Conchita Delgado

Reyes Theis
EL UNIVERSAL