Fernando Llano/AP,Fernando Llano
Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar proposed swapping tissue paper for Venezuelan oil at a news conference Tuesday. "The concept of commodity sharing is simple," Persad-Bissessar said after meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Port of Spain. "The Government of Trinidad and Tobago will purchase goods identified by the Government of Venezuela from T&T's manufacturers, such as tissue paper, gasoline, and parts for machinery. Venezuela, which is rich with oil but where natives scramble to buy basic items such as detergent, toilet paper and cooking oil, is expected to see a 7 percent contraction to its economy this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Venezuela's Information Ministry declined to comment.