And finally, from yesterday's conversation, Ferguson shared his opinions on the business arrangement involving the free usage of Belize's rivers for hydroelectricity generation.
Ferguson was given a guided tour of the Chalillo dam back in June - so we asked him abut his impressions - and the sustainable use of a precious resource to create energy which is then sold into the national grid.
Surprisingly, he says those who use the resource should pay something for it:
Jules Vasquez - Host
"Did it not strike you that our river is being used. We aren't getting any payment for it, and we are purchasing energy for Newfoundland in Canada. You have to pay them in US dollars for the energy that they produce at no cost, off our river."
Hon. Rodwell Ferguson - Minister of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics and Transport
"So, we're getting the renewable energy from BECOL-"
Jules Vasquez
"And we're paying for it."
Hon. Rodwell Ferguson
"We're paying for it. There's a cost."
Jules Vasquez
"In US dollars."
Hon. Rodwell Ferguson
"In US dollars-"
Jules Vasquez
"So, we're importing it from Canada, effectively."
Hon. Rodwell Ferguson
"I understand."
Jules Vasquez
"And they are using our river. We aren't getting paid. Shouldn't we charge them something at least for water use?"
Hon. Rodwell Ferguson
"Okay, all of that will be revisited, and we will come up with a plan within the very near future, and so, hopefully, by maybe now and next year, there should be some protocol in place to be able to make sure that this has been addressed."
Hon. Rodwell Ferguson
"You brought it something very important to me today, and you opened my eyes, and now, I would have to go back within the ministry and figure how we can make it happen as quickly as possible, take a paper to Cabinet, and say you know what, these resources are for the government of Belize. We are losing out dramatically, and this is a way that we can increase our revenue."
Jules Vasquez
"But, you know what will happen. When you go and do that, they will say, 'Bwai, you need to go from here.' These are some big - Fortis, in particular, is a big multinational company. They own BECOL. We can't change the terms on them. This is the reality we live in."
Hon. Rodwell Ferguson
"I don't think so because speaking to the Prime Minister recently, he's aware, and I'd like like to give Chris Coye kudos because he's what you'd call a financial genius in my estimation. He's doing everything possible for this country to accomplish the maximum revenue. So, I'm quite sure that they will listen to me."
