7 News Belize

PUMA Mum On Patrocaribe
posted (September 14, 2012)
As we've been reporting - the government of Belize has resurrected the Petrocaribe agreement and is importing fuel from Venezuela again.

The first shipment landed last Saturday - and, in a new arrangement, it will be stored and distributed by PUMA energy. Now PUMA is a multinational, a subsidiary of Trafigura - and Petrocaribe is a pro-poor initiative. So how will these two entities work together - and will it be a fair and transparent deal for consumers?

That's the question we tried to put to PUMA's country manager Freddy Flores today when he appeared to open PUMA street - but we got the corporate cold shoulder. Here's what he said when we asked him how the PETROCARIBE agreement will work:..

Freddy Flores, PUMA's country manager
"I would have to differ that comment to the government because they can give you more details."

Jules Vasquez
"The largest vehicle retailer in Belize is saying that there is contaminated fuel in the diesel. Can you comment on that?"

Freddy Flores, PUMA's country manager
"If you need any more information the public relations officer can assist you."

That was his public relations officer turning us down there - with the mayor also trying to hold us back from the fleeing executive - who didn't even stay around to hobnob with all the PUMA dealers who had come around for the event.

What we really wanted to ask him - and have been asking his public relations officers by email to no avail - is what are the margins in PUMA's price buildup? That information is kept confidential by government.

But now, since PUMA no longer imports fuel - and the government does - as a state controlled monopoly - we expect that there will be full transparency.

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7 News Belize