Here's an article from 2006, relating to the 15million that Crystallex had given the CVG back in September 2002.

CVG/Mibam chief executive Jose Kahn to investigate Crystallex US$20 million

Correo del Coroni (Luis Antonio Anselmi P.): Jose Gregorio Beria says he is satisfied with the appointment of Jose Kahn as head of the Venezuelan Guayana Corporation (CVG) and the Basic Industries & Mining Ministry (Mibam).

translated by VHeadline.com's Beatriz Socorro

As a Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) party member and the president of CVG, Khan will investigate what happened with the excess cash flow and US$20 million provided by Crystallex for water treatment.

Beria is confident that, as a former deputy in the National Assembly (AN), Kahn will bring order to political involvement and introduce managerial policies that will benefit community interests as opposed to small power cliques.

Beria emphasizes that, even though some people have been in charge for the past 8 years, designated by the President, the executive role will be handled for the first time directly by MVR and says that this means “…confronting neoliberal malfeasances that have caused regional setbacks.”

“We are trade unionists ... for us (including the foreigners), worker’s rights are not in question but neoliberal attitudes are. This is a hard blow to the remaining technocrats within the CVG ... even though Rangel Gomez is no longer here, he still influences business deals.”

“Contradictions”

Rangel Gomez was replaced by Rafael Sanchez Marquez as president of CVG but Beria doesn’t think that the ousting of Rangel Gomez was enough to put an end to the “elite” that continues to have political ties with the “guaro clan” and which still exert their influence in the hiring of certain individuals, such as: Yajaira Briceno and Andres Cabeza.

He believes that the conflicts in Guayana are not only work-related but also political. This is why it is imperative to put an end to the “franchises” that certain parties have put in place for the "advancement" and benefit of certain individuals.

He cites, as an example, the Guayana Regional Fund which “…continues to favor specific economic groups that have close ties with hotels and newspapers in the state of Bolivar ... this is a contradiction.”

"Today the rank and file watch in astonishment ... the same majority that made up yesterday’s operators are today’s “cooperators” ... they changed labels and have distorted the true meaning and purpose of worker cooperation ... they continue to hold on to most of the contracts while the majority of the members in the cooperatives only get the crumbs.”

“How is it possible that we still don’t know where the $20 million, provided by Crystallex for water treatment in the state of Bolivar, went?"

"Where did the excess cash flow go? ... Apparently it was re-directed to 'other purposes.’"

"Why has there been such a delay in the development of the V line at Alcasa and the VI at the Carbon Plant at Venalum?” he asked.

The ex-councilor from Caroni said that since the Minister has greater power than the Governor, and is constantly in direct contact with the President, he will organize activities surrounding the state industries in Guayana."

The aim is to return the industry to a path of production that will benefit all the inhabitants of the region. This, he pointed out “is a transcendental opportunity.”