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Steiner has travelled the world assessing oil impacts - particularly oil spills, from the Exxon Valdez to the Deep-water Horizon and he says Belizeans have to make an informed decision on which way they want to go:…

Richard Steiner - U.S. oil expert
"This issue of whether to allow oil and gas and where to do iy and how to do it. There is positives and negatives. there are certainly positives with jobs and more revenue to the government, there is no question about that if there is oil found, but there is also negatives; there's the environmental risks, there is a probability of a shifting of your economy to something that you may not and want and you may want - I don't know but the thing that you are at risk of is jeopardizing the existing sustainable jobs say as in tourism and in commercial fishing and other sustainable jobs that you have right now. The risks are real. I generally find that government and industry tend to understate the risk and overstate the benefit and I think it's important for Belize to have the facts about what the risks are. In general globally oil and gas development is not compatible with protected areas. Offshore there is a lot of oil and gas being develop offshore around the world right now but in places that are world heritage site such as the barrier reef system here it would be extraordinary risk and it's your decision whether or not you want to pose that sort of risk to Belizean waters into your existing sustainable tourism and fishing economy. There is no single model from any other country that can be applied. Every country is unique with the resources you have, but I will say that with your World Heritage Barrier Reef offshore, the site down at Sarstoon/Temash - these are global treasures that should not be put at risk by short term development unless it was absolutely in the national interest to do so."

And while Steiner says he's operating for the National Interest, as far as we could tell he's retained by the Coalition; he's been embedded with them and the Press conference this morning was held at their office in the Programme For Belize building.

So, we asked, won't his findings reflect the Coalition's agenda? Here's what he had to say:..

Richard Steiner - U.S. oil expert
"I am not being paid by anybody, I'm doing this pro bono as a labor of love, something I feel very passionately about and I am not receiving a dime for this project which is one of the reasons it has to be short because I do have to meet somebody elsewhere in the world and I do have some projects in Nigeria and elsewhere. But this one - I am just here, I'm doing this project pro bono for Coalition - for the government which is why I am retaining complete independence and my recommendations are going to be as independent and objective as I can possible make them."

Steiner and Coalition representatives met with the Prime Minister on Friday, and, today, they described him as extremely receptive.

But one group that hasn't been receptive is Belize's only oil-producing company, Belize Natural Energy. The company had invited the coalition members to visit and tour their facilities in Spanish Lookout - but Chairman Brackett consistently refused.

But he said he would be willing to take up the offer only with Steiner accompanying him - and that's when BNE refused to entertain any non-Belizean experts, advisors, or activists.

But, regardless, Coalition Chairman Brackett accompanied by Audrey Matura Shepherd from member group Oceana went with Steiner to the Iguana Creek Facility on Friday morning. But they never made it past the lobby.

Brackett says they were greeted by Kevin Herrerra, the CEO of CHx who was none too pleased at the surprise visit with an un-invited guest:….

Richard Steiner - U.S. oil expert
"The coalition was told recently by BNE and their subsidiary that under no circumstances would they allow foreign expert to come visit their facility, so that's not a very good way to start a functional relationship between the oil industry and the people of Belize I must say and it makes BNE look like they have something to hide and if they have something to hide let us know it and if they have anything to hide let us come in and take a look at it."

Geovanni Brackett, Vice-President COLA
"He was very rude in saying that he can't understand 'looks like I am suffering from the "pop syndrome"' a colonial mentality that we have to bring this international person when we can rely on our own expertise and I let him go on for some period and I stop and said for somebody is trying to engage me, you are very rude and insulting. I said to him 'how would you feel if I refer to you as the house slave, living inside the masters house, not having to worry about the environment and the changes - the things that affect me on the outside'. I said to him that I can't understand 'you are insulting', I mean what we wanted was nothing bad, no hidden agenda other than Rick needed to view any element related to the oil and gas industry to get a grasp of what's happening and what's at risk and so I was very disappointed that they turn off our request. In terms of response this is coalition press conference and I'll say that the coalition will take the matter into consideration but Jules as the Vice President of COLA I don't take that very well, so I think whatever retribution follows I just hope that BNE would their position."

Richard Steiner - U.S. oil expert
"This is not BNE oil. This is the people of Belize oil."

We tried multiple times to reach Herrera for his account of that exchange but he did not respond to voicemails or text messages.

On Thursday, Steiner will be joined by economist Richard Feinberg at a public forum in Belize City at the UWI Auditorium..