Dear Editor,

The latest talking point making the rounds in Jamaica is whether the borrowing of US$2 billion to settle a US$3-billion debt to Venezuela is worth the additional interest we will have to pay on the new loan. I say, unequivocaly, yes!

I don’t know why governments like to be so wary of speaking the plain and simple truth about matters like these.

It is no secret that when the late President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez decided to assist Jamaica with what is now known as the PetroCaribe fund, Jamaica was in dire straits, as its energy requirements were on the brink of disaster.

A former chairman of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica told me at the time that without Venzuela’s intervention we would have to be turning off lights during the day. That was how grim the situation was. So when the president of Venezuela accepted a settlement like this we would have, indeed, been in serious trouble.

I must, therefore, congratulate the Government for not forgetting what Venezuela did for us over the past several years. And whatever they can do to assist them in their time of need they should do it. The people will undersatnd..

Ken Spencer

Kingston 8

kensingtonspencer868@gmail.com