OIL exploration by foreign companies inthe Orinoco river's delta has invitedcriticism from environmentalists andnative Indians. The natives are concerned that these activities will ' damagetheir fishing and hunting grounds.Foreign oil companies, includingEnron, British Petroleum (BP) andConoco, have tied up with the state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA)to extract oil in the Pedernales estuary,where, rare black-headed parakeets flyand river dolphins play.
The Warao Indians were notconsulted before the oil companiesmoved in. Luis Padron, an environmentministry official admits, "We didnot consider them to the extent weshould have." In a bid to de se thegrowing tension and to improve itsimage, PDVSA and its partners are planning to launch a comprehensive development project in the region. Theus $1 million aid that BP paid to thetown of Pedernales has brought nosubstantial benefits for the Indians.Health and educational services arenon-existent and few locals areemployed by the companies because ofpoor training.