I have really been enjoying the renewed debate between those whom believe that there could be a possibility of a 50/50 mixed contract and the current agreement which makes Crystallex a contractor where Venezuela owns 100% of the resource. Everyone has raised valid points.

IMO- We are all intellegent, (and even though my spelling might blow sometimes) longs as a group probably never belived that this process would take so long. Why is this? Everyone here can clearly understand what the contract says, so why are some worried about possible changes?

IMHO, The Venezuelan Government beaurocrats and ministers are dealing with a similar situation. They are intellegent but in the current climate afraid to move forward with decisions they know are correct, but are afraid will put them out of favor since the tide of socialist takeovers began. You know that free thinking went out the window when the Government (Chavez) steamrolled over the TV and radio stations. It is easier to hemm and haw as a Minister until someone higher gives the nod either way. There are too many fingers in the pie, too many beaurocrats trying to find favor with Chavez, too many people with private agendas (Ortega as an example).

So the process is slow, but most of all the work up to the granting of the construction is done so I would put forward that there can not be that much left to discuss. Something should happen soon, soon is relative, but if you look at the timeline and where we are, and in the political climate I believe exists, what could be a reasonable definition of soon?

Good luck to everyone. Hondo