"This letter seems to suggest a complete policy change in position relating to this region," Marshall said.

He said word of the denial had come by way of a letter from a director general of the Venezuelan Ministry of the Environment to the CVG, which is the government-owned body that owns the Las Cristinas concessions. The CVG in turn informed Crystallex.

So are we to believe that the CVG simply forwarded this letter to KRY with their condolances? Aren't the CVG and KRY partners in this shining new mining model? I really want to know where the CVG stands on this and how they are working in concert with their mining partner given the recent shocking news.