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We were unable to reach Herrera yesterday - because it runs out we were calling him on an old number. But when he saw the news last night he did respond and here's what he told us this morning about his encounter with Audrey and Geovanni:

Kevin Herrera Country Manager, CHX
"We did not have any meetings arranged, you know. The next thing i knew is that they showed up with two person whom they said were experts. I don't know of any company in Belize that would just entertain anybody who shows up at their door steps as experts. It doesn't operate like that; I wasn't trying to be rude. That wasn't the intention at all, but we have to do things properly. You can't just show up at somebody's offices and have experts, or whoever, tour your facilities; it doesn't operate like that. You've been been doing some good investigative reporting; try doing that with any of the commercial banks. Take someone posing as experts and see if you will be accomodated. It doesn't operate like that."

Jules Vasquez
"However, you will accept that BNE is managing a natural resource, which is the property of all Belizean, a non-renewable natural resource, so can it be argued that there is a certain entitlement for public oversight?"

Kevin Herrera
"There is an oversight mechanism that is established. Perhaps, they may want to look at what is there. But like I said, The Department of Geology, The Department of Environment, The Ministry of Finance, Income Tax, and other departments come into those companies all the time, looking at everything you have. This is where I beg to differ with the gentlemen; I really believe that the people in the Department of Geology and Petroleum and the people in the Department of Environment are all very technical and very capable. So to me it's a little disrespectful, if not insulting, to suggest that we don't have the capacity in Belize."

Herrera says it's not personal and he is still ready to meet the Coalition or COLA and offer them a tour of the BNE facilities.