THE JAMAICAN government is currently in preliminary discussions with Venezuelan to solicit financial support for Highway 2000.
"We are in preliminary discussions with the Venezuelan (Government) about possible support from them for Highway 2000, but it is much too early to say anything definitive," Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies told the Gleaner yesterday, moments before being re-elected People's National Party (PNP) Region Three chairman.
Dr. Davies however declined to say how much money the government was looking to borrow from the Venezuelans.
"These are preliminary meetings with a team led by Kingsley Thomas but there is a lot of basic work to be done after that," he said. The current discussions resulted from the recent visit of the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, last week.
CHEAPER OIL
Both countries also signed an agreement for a US$200 million expansion and modernisation of the Petrojam oil refinery as part of the PetroCaribe Initiative where Venezuela will sell its oil cheaper to Jamaica and other Caribbean countries.
Highway 2000 is a project by the Government to construct a tolled expressway between Kingston and Montego Bay.
The project is being conducted with Bouygues, a French construction and engineering company that won the 35 year- concession and NROCC, a government company which is spearheading the project.
