Sen. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III speaks to reporters outside a poling station in Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac City, Tarlac province, north of Manila. Unofficial results have him winning the presidential race by a landslide. (Dennis M. Sabangan, EPA / May 9, 2010)

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Philippines election

Election day violence in the Philippines

Filipina writes up a storm

Filipinos on Monday appeared set to elect as president the son of late democracy icon Corazon Aquino in an attempt to turn a corner on long years of alleged graft and election fraud.

Sen. Benigno Aquino III held a commanding lead with votes from just under 80% of precincts tallied nationwide. He led a nine-candidate presidential race with 40% of the vote, followed by his closest rival, former President Joseph Estrada, who had 25%.

Officials say it could take several days to proclaim an outright winner.

The Philippine election has been marred by widespread violence and flaws with ballot-counting machines that many blamed on the corrupt politics.

Officials confirmed election-related violence at more than 80 polling places nationwide, including bombings, shootouts, abductions and the burning of voting machines. At least six people were killed and eight were wounded, they said.

“We certainly don’t want it, and as a Filipino I know it’s a terrible thing, but unless something is done to change the system and [make] these people afraid of the law, it’s going to happen again and again,” said Rod Severino, head of the ASEAN Studies Center at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

Aquino’s father was assassinated in 1983 upon his return from the United States to oppose the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. His mother led the “people power” movement that forced Marcos from power in 1986 and led the nation to greater individual freedoms.

But turmoil and charges of high-level corruption have continued. Corazon Aquino survived half a dozen coup attempts. Estrada, who was elected president in 1998, was later jailed on corruption charges. The outgoing president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, also has been shadowed by allegations of corruption in her nearly 10 years in power.

The 50-year-old Aquino has promised to immediately begin prosecuting corrupt officials to restore government credibility.

At many polling places, voters waited more than five hours in humid 100-degree heat to cast their ballots, with many eventually giving up in despair. Election officials put turnout at 75% of the 50 million eligible voters.

Authorities extended voting for one hour, until 7 p.m., after reports that optical scanning machines used for the first time had broken down in more than 300 of the nation’s 76,000 precincts. Many people had requested that polls remain open three hours after that.

Aquino was one of many who had trouble casting his ballot when a machine malfunctioned in his hometown of Tarlac, north of Manila. Aquino showed up at 10 a.m. but did not cast his vote until five hours later.

“This should not have happened,” he said. “I hope this is an isolated case.”

It was not.

Volunteers used broom handles, the tip of an umbrella and even ballpoint pens to dislodge ballots jamming voting machines.

“I interviewed people who had waited for four hours to vote and were still nowhere near the front of the line. The electronic voting systems seem to be creating as many problems as they are solving,” said Lincoln Ellis, a volunteer for a group called the People’s International Observation Mission.

Some towns were not able to hold elections because of the balloting machine problems and outbreaks of violence. Special elections were to be held in many of those areas, means voting results will be delayed.

Analysts said the violence was typical of Philippine elections.

In addition to Monday’s deaths, campaign-related violence has killed more than 30 people in the last three months. The last election in 2007 saw more than 125 people killed.

“It’s lawlessness that’s getting people killed,” Severino said.

In a nation where the rich and famous often run for political office, the ballot was filled with well-known names — including Manny Pacquiao, 31, a seven-time world boxing champion who was seeking a seat in the lower house. Imelda Marcos, 80, the flamboyant former first lady, won a lower house seat by a landslide.

john.glionna@latimes.com

Times staff writer Glionna reported from Seoul and special correspondent Vanzi from Manila. Special correspondent Al Jacinto in Zamboanga City, Mindanao, contributed to this report.

Police on St. Croix arrested 71-year-old David A. Dawod and charged him with Possession of Stolen property. Dawod was arrested Monday, May 10 at about 8:15 p.m. based on warrant issued by the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands.

On Thursday May 6, during a raid of Everybody’s Service Station in Estate La Grande Princess, which Dawod owns, police confiscated a pressure washer that was reported stolen in a residential burglary.  Also confiscated in the raid were several hundred illegal or “boot leg” DVDs and ammunition.

Two customers who were at the gas station at the time of the raid were found to be in possession of marijuana and were arrested. The gas station manager, 33-year-old Tarik Abballah of Estate Barron Spot attempted to “push through” the police perimeter. He was arrested and charged with Interfering with an Officer.

Dawod’s bail was set at $25,000 which he posted.

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Man Charged in Domestic Violence Assault

Timothy Robney.JPG (1710KB)

Police on St. Croix arrested 45-year-old Timothy D. Rodney and charged him with Assault First Degree Domestic Violence. Rodney is accused of assaulting his ex-wife with a fire extinguisher causing serious injuries.

The assault took place in the Cane Bay area at about 1:21 a.m. Saturday, May 8. Rodney, who is originally from St. Lucia and lives in Estate Two Williams, was held without bail at the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility pending his Advice of Rights hearing.

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Marley Homes Murder Suspect Arrested

B508161 Jemnason Charles

Criminal Investigations Bureau detectives arrested 35-year-old Jemmason B. Charles on charges of Murder First Degree in connection with the March 16 shooting death of 17-year-old Dupert Knowles III. Charles was arrested on Saturday, May 8 at 5:59 a.m. based on a warrant issued by Judge Julio Brady.

Bail for Charles was set at $125,000 and he was remanded to the custody of the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility pending his Advice of Rights Hearing.

Knowles, of Estate Campo Rico, was found shot to death under a tamarind tree in the Marley Apartments in Frederiksted at about 1:39 a.m. March 16.

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Saturated Patrols on St. Croix Net Arrests and Illegal Firearms

Members of the Special Operations Bureau on St. Croix continued their proactive policing strategy Friday, May 7 and Saturday, May 8 arresting suspects on weapons and drug possession charges.

Luis Rivera, 26, of Estate Profit was arrested about 10:08 p.m. and charged with Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm. SOB officers on surveillance in the high drug trafficking area of Estate Profit observed a number of suspicious individuals. When officers approached the group, one male, later identified as Rivera, attempted to flee the area and was apprehended by police. He was found to have a fully loaded 9 mm Glock hand gun tucked in his waist. A check of the weapon revealed it was reported stolen in Atlanta, Georgia. Rivera was held on $25,000 bail and remanded to custody. Investigation into this case is continuing.

Albert Williams, 25, of Estate Sion Farm was also arrested at about 10 p.m. and charged with Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute. Williams was detained by SOB officers on the Melvin Evans Highway near Estate Hannah’s Rest. Officers observed marijuana in plain view in the vehicle Williams was driving. A search revealed that Williams had a fully loaded 9 mm Smith and Wesson firearm in his possession.

Curtis Simon, 25, was a passenger in Williams’ car and was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute. Williams was held on $25,000 bail and Simon was held on a $10,000 bail. Both were remanded to the custody of the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility.

Jason Williams, 27, of the Lorraine Village Apartments, was arrested at about 11:30 at the Consumer Gas station in Estate Grove Place and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute. His bail was set at $10,000 and he was remanded to the custody of the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility.

The saturated patrols continued Saturday netting five more drug related arrests. Details on these arrests will be released at a later date.

St. Croix Police Chief Oakland Benta and Deputy Police Chief Christopher Howell participated in the patrols along with the SOB officers.

Deputy Police Chief Howell said the saturated patrols are a “well thought-out proactive policing strategy.” He said, “This plan is working. We are seeing a decrease in criminal activity and an increase in criminal arrests. I intend to continue the deployment of these officers who are going above and beyond the call of duty. Many of these officers are working 16 hour days. However, the long hours do not discourage them, they are determined to get the job done in a professional and effective manner.”

Melody Rames

Public Information Officer

VIPD

Conservative leader David Cameron is the new UK prime minister after the resignation of Gordon Brown.

Mr Cameron, 43, entered 10 Downing Street after travelling to Buckingham Palace to formally accept the Queen’s request to form the next government.

He said he aimed to form a “proper and full coalition” with the Lib Dems to provide “strong, stable government”.

His party won the most seats in the UK general election last week, but not an overall majority.

In a speech outside his new Downing Street home, Mr Cameron said he and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg would “put aside party differences and work hard for the common good and the national interest”.

‘Difficult decisions’

He paid tribute to outgoing PM Gordon Brown for his long years of public service and said he would tackle Britain’s “pressing problems” – the deficit, social problems and to “rebuild trust in our political system”.

Mr Cameron stressed there would be “difficult decisions” but said he wanted to take people through them to reach “better times ahead”.

I came into politics because I love this country, I think it’s best days still lie ahead David Cameron Brown resigns as prime minister Gordon Brown’s rise and fall The David Cameron story

He said he aimed to “help build a more responsible society here in Britain… Those who can should and those who can’t, we will always help. I want to make sure that my government always looks after the elderly, the frail, the poorest in our country.

“We must take everyone through with us on some of the difficult decisions we have ahead.”

“I came into politics because I love this country, I think it’s best days still lie ahead and I believe deeply in public service.

“I think the service our country needs right now is to face up to our big challenges, to confront our problems, take difficult decisions, lead people through those decisions, so that together we can reach better times ahead.”

Lib Dem agreement

The Conservatives have been in days of negotiations with the Lib Dems – who were also negotiating with Labour – after the UK election resulted in a hung parliament.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg must get the support of a majority of his MPs and his party’s ruling body, the federal executive, before he can enter into a coalition.

I loved the job not for its prestige, its titles and its ceremony – which I do not love at all. No, I loved the job for its potential to make this country I love fairer Gordon Brown

Earlier the Lib Dems said talks with Labour failed because “the Labour Party never took seriously the prospects of forming a progressive, reforming government”.

A spokesman said key members of the Labour team “gave every impression of wanting the process to fail” and the party had made “no attempt at all” to agree a common approach on issues like schools funding and tax reform.

“Certain key Labour cabinet ministers were determined to undermine any agreement by holding out on policy issues and suggesting that Labour would not deliver on proportional representation and might not marshal the votes to secure even the most modest form of electoral reform,” he said.

However Labour’s Lord Mandelson told the BBC they had been “up for” a deal with the Lib Dems, but they had “created so many barriers and obstacles that perhaps they thought their interests lay on the Tory side, on the Conservative side, rather than the progressive side”.

‘My fault’

After it became clear the talks had failed, Mr Brown tendered his resignation and said he wished the next prime minister well.

In an emotional resignation statement outside Number Ten, Mr Brown thanked his staff, his wife Sarah and their children, who joined the couple as they left for Buckingham Palace.

Mr Brown said it had been “a privilege to serve” adding: “I loved the job not for its prestige, its titles and its ceremony – which I do not love at all. No, I loved the job for its potential to make this country I love fairer, more tolerant, more green, more democratic, more prosperous and more just – truly a greater Britain.”

He also paid tribute to the courage of the armed forces, adding: “I will never forget all those who have died in honour and whose families today live in grief.”

Later he thanked Labour activists and MPs for all their efforts and told them Labour’s general election performance was “my fault, and my fault alone”.

The Lib Dem and Conservative teams met for hours of negotiations at the Cabinet Office on Tuesday – four days after the UK general election resulted in a hung parliament.

The talks resumed after Lib Dem negotiators met a Labour team, which followed Mr Brown’s announcement on Monday that he would step down as Labour leader by September.

But there were signs throughout the afternoon that the two parties – who together would still not command an overall majority in the House of Commons – would not reach a deal.

BBC News, May 11, 2010.

PAROLE BOARD MEETING RESULTS

The Parole Board held meetings on December 3, 2009, and December 4, 2009 at the Golden Grove Correctional Facility on the island of St. Croix . Listed below are the results of the following inmates’ applications for parole.

DECISIONS RENDERED ON DECEMBER 3, 2009

OFFENSE(S)

INMATE(S) COMMITTED DECISION(S)

1. EDISON TAYLOR Murder 2nd Degree APPROVED

2. DAVID DIAZ Robbery 1st Degree DISAPPROVED

3. LUIS DANET CASTILLO Murder 2nd Degree DISAPPROVED

4. ELVIS EDWARDS Aggravated Rape DISAPPROVED

5. MILTON GORDON Murder 2nd Degree DISAPPROVED

6. EDUARDO GARCIA, JR. Murder 2nd Degree DISAPPROVED

7. HUBERT RHYMER Aggravated Rape DISAPPROVED

8. WILFRED EDWARDS Poss. of Controlled DISAPPROVED

Substance

9. LUIS OSORIO Assault 1st Degree APPROVED

DECISIONS RENDERED ON DECEMBER 4, 2009

OFFFENSE(S)

INMATE(S) COMMITTED DECISION(S)

1. JOHN BASTIAN Assault 1st Degree DISAPPROVED

2. ISHMAEL MARTINEZ Murder 2nd Degree APPROVED

3. FELIPE LEDESMA Aggravated Rape APPROVED

4. ANDY PETERS Murder 2nd Degree APPROVED

5. ALVIN GOMEZ, JR. Rape 1st Degree DISAPPROVED

6. MORRIS HU GG INS Assault 3rd Degree APPROVED

7. WAYNE BLASH Murder 2nd Degree APPROVED

8. AKIM POTTER Unlawful Sexual Contact APPROVED

9. SERVANO CARMONA Grand Larceny APPROVED

10. MELVIN WILTSHIRE Attempted Rape DISAPPROVED

Sara Lezama

Public Information Officer

Virgin Islands Department of Justice

 Associated Press Writer

 Angola (AP)—Asamoah Gyan gave Ghana a 1-0 win over host Angola and a place in the semifinals of the African Cup of Nations on Sunday.

Gyan received a pass from Kojo Asamoah before firing a diagonal shot into the bottom corner.

Ghana, a four-time African Cup champion who has also qualified for the World Cup later this year, will either play Zambia or Nigeria. The two teams meet Monday.

Later Sunday, Ivory Coast plays Algeria as two World Cup qualifying teams meet in another quarterfinal.

“We made an assessment of the Angolan team,” Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac said. “We wanted to get an early goal and fortunately we got one. We could have scored more on the counterattack.”

Luanda’s 50,000 seater stadium was full to capacity as the boisterous home support urged Angola on, and the home side started well, pressing forward and winning an early corner after Flavio’s long range shot took a deflection off a Ghana defender.

Missing the midfield leadership of Chelsea’s Michael Essien and Bologna’s Stephen Appiah, Ghana looked shaky, with Andre Ayew getting a yellow card in the opening minute for a late challenge on Mabina.

And Ghana’s left back Addy Lee twice almost beat his own goalkeeper Richard Kingson in the opening quarter of an hour.

That gave the home crowd encouragement, but Gyan’s 16th minute goal quietened the home support.

“I am proud of my players,” Angola coach Jose Manuel said. “We didn’t take our chances. We knew Ghana was a difficult opponent. I don’t think we played badly.”

Asamoah, who plays for Udinese in Italy’s Serie A, pumped a long ball forward to Gyan, who outpaced Angola captain Kali to score from 15 yards (meters).

Exploiting poor marking from the Ghana defense, Flavio presented Manucho with an easy tap-in just before the break, but the Real Valladolid forward blasted his shot over.

Angola pushed for an equalizer in the second half, and went close in the 70th when Gilberto’s free kick from 20 yards was deflected just wide.

Manucho missed another good chance two minutes later when he headed wide after substitute Job had sent in an enticing cross from the right.

In the final minute, defensive midfielder Isaac Vorsah denied Angola a last gasp equalizer when he cleared captain Kali’s well placed shot off the line.

Associated Press, Jan. 24, 2010.

 AP Sports Writer

MELBOURNE, Australia(AP)—Four days after an angry outburst over the rules relating to replays and line calls, Andy Roddick got a crucial call in his favor in his fourth-round Australian Open win over Fernando Gonzalez.

Roddick held off the 2007 Australian Open finalist 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 on Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals at the season’s first major for the sixth time in eight years.

The 27-year-old American will meet No. 14 Marin Cilic of Croatia, who ousted U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in five sets.

Roddick bucked the trend on a day of upsets that also resulted in fourth-round exits for two of the top women: No. 2 Dinara Safina, last year’s runner-up, and No. 3 Svetlana Kuznetsova, the reigning French Open champion.

“I got a little lucky tonight, but sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good,” said seventh-seeded Roddick, who hopes to end a Grand Slam drought that dates to the 2003 U.S. Open.

After wasting four set points in the 10th game of the fourth set, Roddick rallied from 40-0 down in the 12th – Gonzalez’ next service game – to earn a fifth set point. Then he hit the contentious, dipping crosscourt forehand.

The ball was called out and Gonzalez didn’t take a swing. Roddick challenged the call immediately, and the evidence showed that the ball just caught the line, giving Roddick the set to level at two-all and igniting a protest from Gonzalez.

The Chilean argued that he could have had a play on the ball and that chair umpire Enric Molina should have replayed the point.

“In my opinion you could not have reached the ball,” Molina told Gonzalez in Spanish.

Gonzalez strode back for the changeover, kicking two water bottles and a courtside chair before slumping into it. The entire episode had a similar feel to the end of Roddick’s second-round win over Brazilian Thomasz Bellucci, when he angrily objected to a decision that went against him on a match point.

After reviewing a TV replay of that point following his match Wednesday, Roddick apologized and said his interpretation, on reflection, may not have been correct.

After seeing Gonzalez’ reaction late Sunday night, Roddick said he still didn’t understand how the rule is applied as to when a point gets replayed.

“I know he was pretty upset about the challenge and that rule no one seems to know about,” Roddick said. “I can certainly sympathize with his frustrations, you know?”

Gonzalez refused to blame one disputed call for turning the match.

“We played more than 200 points,” he said. “It was important, for sure, but it wasn’t the key of the match.”

Roddick said the knee problem that sidelined him at the end of last season was bothering him a bit, but it didn’t affect the game.

Safina had to retire because of the recurrence of a back injury when she was serving at 5-4 down and 30-40 in the first set against Maria Kirilenko, who had knocked 2008 champion Maria Sharapova out of the tournament in the first round.

Safina said her back hurt so much she could barely move.

“It was getting worse and worse. I have no idea how it happened. It was really terrible,” said Safina, who saw her season last year end prematurely because of a back problem. “I turned to my coach and I said I cannot move anymore. It’s shocking.”

Kuznetsova lost 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to Nadia Petrova, who went into the match after a stunning, 6-0, 6-1 third-round victory over U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters.

While the seeded players dropped, former No. 1 Justine Henin continued her run in her first Grand Slam tournament in two years with a 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-3 win over fellow Belgian Yanina Wickmayer, keeping her on track for a quarterfinal meeting with Petrova.

Henin, who is unranked and playing on a wild-card entry in her second tournament since returning from a 20-month retirement, told the crowd she’d missed tennis too much to stay away.

“It’s been a great moment for myself,” Henin said. “It’s a great feeling to be back, been a great fight, and thank you.”

In an afternoon match, 2008 Wimbledon semifinalist Zheng Jie became the first Chinese player to reach the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park with a 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory over Alona Bondarenko. She next plays Kirilenko.

Del Potro, the first man since Novak Djokovic won the 2008 Australian Open to interrupt the Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal domination of men’s Grand Slam titles at the U.S. Open in September, started the season’s first major seeded fourth and among the hot favorites.

When del Potro was asked if the wrist problem that flared last week had troubled him against Cilic, the 21-year-old Argentine replied that his whole body hurt.

The other leading men are still here.

Defending champion Nadal and No. 5 Andy Murray held off two of the tallest men and biggest servers in tennis to set up a quarterfinal match up.

Nadal, who beat Federer in the 2009 final, had a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over 6-foot-10 Ivo Karlovic of Croatia, while Murray overcame 6-foot-9 American John Isner 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2 to reach the final eight in Australia for the first time.

No. 1 Federer and No. 3 Djokovic play their fourth-round matches Monday.

Federer will take on Lleyton Hewitt, aiming to extend a run of making the semifinals or better every year since winning the first of his three Australian titles in 2004.

He is on a 14-match winning streak against former U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion Hewitt, who is bidding to become the first Australian man to win the national title since 1976.

Defending champion Serena Williams takes on another Australian, No. 13 Sam Stosur, in a late afternoon match at Rod Laver Arena. Her sister, sixth-seeded Venus Williams, opens proceedings against Italian Francesca Schiavone on the same court.

Associated Press, Jan. 24, 2010.

Library Friends Annual Meeting Agenda Set

In celebration of 28 years serving the community, the Friends of St. Thomas Public Libraries (FOSTPL) invites the public to their Annual Meeting, set for 6-8pm on Saturday, January 30, 2010 in the Upper Gallery at the Enid M. Baa Public Library.

On the agenda are updates on 2009 activities, board elections, and the progress of the new St. Thomas Regional Library in Tutu. Guest speakers are UVI Bookstore Manager Mervin V. Taylor and Territorial Director of Libraries, Archives & Museums Ingrid A. Bough, JD. Light refreshments will be served.

FOSTPL’s motto is: “Raising Visibility of Our Libraries to the Community”! Follow the Friends on Twitter, Facebook and join (membership is annual)… download an application today at www.fostpl.org.

The Acting Chief Legal Counsel of the legislature, responding to Sen. Nelson’s query on the options the legislature have when hearings reveal improper and/or illegal acts on the part of the Governor. The legal council told the senator the Organic Act, as revised does not provide the VI legislature with impeachment powers. She said ¾ of the members of the legislature could initiate a referendum for recall of any elected public official. Sen. Nelson stated he disagree with the Chief Legal Counsel interpretation of the law that governs the US Virgin Islands. I do not know what the Organic Act says about impeachment but I do agree with the legal counsel interpretation that the function of the legislature is to legislate and have oversight but not executive powers, based on the doctrine on separation of powers between the three branches of government. The legislature has the option to legislate addressing the deficiencies in law as it relates to any problem that may develop in government; they seldom do.

Some of the actions I believe the legislature could take and should take in addressing the reasons Gov. de Jongh gave to justify remodeling his personal residence at the taxpayers expense. First, the legislature should evaluate the reasons the Governor gave for not moving in to the official residence of the governor at Government House. I sympathize with the Governor’s reasons for not moving his family into the official governor’s residence or at Catherineberg. The legislature can and should appropriate funds for the construction of an adequate residence for any governor in the future rather than forcing the governor to live in a building that is of another century, which is also an historical building with all kinds of museum-like artifacts. A modern 21rst century residence would be more appropriate for a governor and his family of any prudent size. I believe there is enough land at Catherinberg to incorporate the current structure into a modern day extension for the use of our elected governor. Of course that would take vision and will to do what is proper and prudent, as legislators.

Concerning the current issue of whether Gov. de Jongh acted in wanton disregard of law or there was an honest misinterpretation of the relevant law followed by a series of administrative errors; as I mentioned earlier herein, I support the concept that the legislature function and duty is to legislate and exercise oversight over the functioning of all branches of government including the legislature. Therefore, any revelations that the hearing produces is left to the executive and judicial branches to prosecute and adjudicate. I understand the Committee voted to forward their findings to the US Attorney’s office. That is the option chosen, but what was interesting, certain senators absent themselves from the floor, conveniently not to vote on any final motion of the committee. Typical game some senators like to play. Which to me show their irresponsibility, their lack of moral backbone, to take a stand on the issues when it is controversial. I trust the responsible voting public would take note of the behavior of those senators and replace them.

J.J. Estemac
CCBG
St. Thomas, VI
23/1/10

Venezuela holds the largest oil reserves outside the Middle East A new US assessment of Venezuela’s oil reserves could give the country double the supplies of Saudi Arabia. Scientists working for the US Geological Survey say Venezuela’s Orinoco belt region holds twice as much petroleum as previously thought. The geologists estimate the area could yield more than 500bn barrels of crude oil. This assessment is far more optimistic than even the best case scenario put forward by President Hugo Chavez. The USGS team gave a mean estimate of 513bn barrels of “technically recoverable” oil in the Orinoco belt. Chris Schenk of the USGS said the estimate was based on oil recovery rates of 40% to 45%. Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA), Venezuela’s state oil company, has not commented on the news. However, Venezuelan oil geologist and former PDVSA board member Gustavo Coronel was sceptical. “I doubt the recovery factor could go much higher than 25% and much of that oil would not be economic to produce”, he told Associated Press news agency. Venezuela holds the largest oil reserves outside the Middle East. Saudi Arabia has proven reserves of 260bn barrels.

BBC News, Jan. 24, 2010.