I have to say I agree with your take on announcements. I have said before, and I reiterate, that it's highly unlikely Chavez will make any announcements re this JV and LC, until the Venezuelan miners have been set up with their own 'concessions'. That would be shooting himself in the foot.....and as much as we would like to see him do that.....let's not have him do it around this issue.

So, I don't think Chavez would be stalling this deal for any other reason. He's made it very clear over the past months, that gold mining is high on his agenda.

Pen