A. THE PARTIES

1. The Claimant is Blue Bank International & Trust (Barbados) Ltd. ("Blue Bank"), a company incorporated under the laws of Barbados. The Respondent is the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ("Venezuela").

B. PROCEDURAL lllSTORY

2. On June 25, 2012, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes ("ICSID" or the "Centre") received a Request for Arbitration filed by Blue Bank against Venezuela.

3. In its Request, the Claimant alleged that Venezuela breached the 1994 Agreement between the Government of Barbados and the Government of the Republic of Venezuela for the Promotion and Protection of Investments, in force since 1995.

4. The Secretary-General registered the Request for Arbitration on August 7, 2012.

5. By letter of October 8, 2012, the Claimant appointed Mr. Jose Maria Alonso, a national of the Kingdom of Spain, as arbitrator. Mr. Alonso accepted his appointment on October 22, 2012. Copies of Mr. Alonso's declaration, statement and curriculum vitae were circulated to the Parties on October 24, 2013, pursuant to Rule 6(2) of the ICSID Rules of Procedure for Arbitration Proceedings ("Arbitration Rules"). Mr. Alonso's statement indicated as follows: