Ann: Update on Appraisal Well Drilling Program Timetable, page-480

I was more or less playing devils advocate, but also it was the logical extension of your “those poor long suffering civilians “. If Alameda is a globally significant discovery, which is yet to be proven then the reward per capita might be considered worthwhile despite the lack of future foreign capital investment. Oil has a limited “shelf life” going forward, so is grabbing the cake now a valid economic argument. Chavez thought so. Of note, Cuba has refused to repay an IMF loan, suggesting they don’t have a high regard for international financial norms. My point was that you used the argument of “helping the poor citizens” to justify or at least mollify the current deferral but chose to ignore the very obvious spectre that this raises. I agree with you, as demonstrated by Chavez, Cuba doesn’t have the money or expertise to go it alone. I just hope they understand that, or I’m off to centre link.