RAQUEL BARREIRO C.
EL UNIVERSAL

British Vestey Group sold ranch El Charcote, in Cojedes state, to the Venezuelan Government for USD 4.1 million, the Agriculture and Lands minister Elías Jaua informed.

Jaua, together with the president of the National Lands Institute (INTI), Richard Vivas, and representatives for Vestey Group, explained the British corporation also decided to donate ranch San Pablo Paeño, in Apure state, to the Venezuelan State.

One year following Hugo Chávez' Government move to declare both El Charcote and San Pablo Paeño as State wasteland, INTI conceded that the two estates were privately owned and belonged to Vestey Group. Following more than seven months of negotiations, the British firm took the decision to get rid of these ranches comprising 55,950 hectares.

"Agroflora (the company representing Vestey Group in Venezuela) has donated to Venezuelan State 43,000 hectare ranch San Pablo Paeño in Apure, including immovables and facilities," said Jaua.

"Regarding ranch El Charcote, located in Cojedes state and comprising 12,950 hectares, there were strong signals that it was wasteland, but they (Agroflora) produced deeds and demonstrated it was private property."

Jaua added that transfer of San Pablo Paeño would be effective immediately. As for El Charcote, transfer to INTI will take place "as of payment of compensation by the Venezuelan State (to Vestey Group.)"

Agrloflora legal counsels added that two assessments conducted in El Charcote showed a price ranking from USD 21 million to USD 6.9 million, but it was finally sold for USD 4.1 million.

Jesper Scheel Edelmann, a member of Vestey Group, said they were always willing to cooperate with INTI to solve this dispute. "This is a positive negotiation for both parties. I thank INTI for understanding our view."

In El Charcote, the Government is to develop a genetic center for agricultural purposes. Some areas are to be devoted to a local university. Further, authorities are to regulate the situation of the people who occupied 70 percent of the ranch.

In San Pablo Paeño, the Government is to open an experimental field for a local higher studies institute, a genetic center for agricultural purposes, and some areas are to be granted to some 30 cooperatives.

Regarding gas exploration activities Brazilian state oil firm Petrobras is to conduct in El Charcote, Vivas said: "We have to study this situation, because the company drilling for gas has to request a number of permits from INTI. Full authorization has not been granted, as we have just initialed the sales agreement; before that, the ranch was not a state property."

Regarding the other eight ranches Vestey Group claims to own, Vivas said they would continue to analyze title deeds to determine ownership.

Translated by Maryflor Suárez R.

Raquel Barreiro C.3
EL UNIVERSAL