President Hugo Chavez said Saturday that Venezuela's program to provide heating oil to poor American families was never halted, despite concerns that deliveries might be interrupted.Venezuela's Citgo Petroleum Corp. had to make a public announcement that the aid would continue after its partner nonprofit group said Citgo stopped the free fuel shipments because of the world economic crisis. "They are speculating on all sides that Venezuela has suspended its program of cooperation with the poor of the United States," Chavez said. "No, it was never suspended."
Chavez did not address whether oil shipments were ever interrupted.
Boston-based Citizens Energy Corp. _ a charity organization run by Joseph Kennedy, the eldest son of late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy _ on Monday alerted households benefiting from the four-year-old program that oil shipments were in doubt.