Earlier in the news, you heard about the state of the economy and the rising inflation that is affecting everything - even the cost of baking bread. But what about your utility bills? Well, your electricity and water rates aren't going up yet - but there's only so much the utility companies can do to absorb the cost. The Minister of Public Utilities said that the consumers won't be the ones footing the bill - for now.
Hon. Michel Chebat - Minister of Public Utilities
"Unfortunately the cost of fuel has skyrocketed and spiraled and it has caused the delivery of services to become more expensive and I think we need to take in consideration that these utility companies, especially BEL, depend on fuel and so the cost of them delivering service has certainly increased. I know that the Public Utilities Commission had approved an increase, BEL said this is not the time for it, they did not think that it is the moment for it and as a government, we did not feel it is the moment to raise our electricity rates."
Reporter
"Is this the same thought process that went into the calculation or determination whether or not water rates should be raised?"
Hon. Michel Chebat
"Absolutely, I know under the previous commission they had approved a 2.5 increase water rate that should have come into effect the first of April 2022, BWS made a further submission for that to be reviewed and they asked for a 5% increase which after consideration, and going through the PUC's process, the PUC determined that was not necessary and so that was denied."
Reporter
"But eventually you would imagine, because everything else is rising, you'd have to imagine that at some point there will be an increase in electricity rates and water rates, what should consumers be concerned about at this time?"
Hon. Michel Chebat
"I don't think that what you're saying is unreasonable and I think as consumers we have a responsibility to make sure that we are efficient in both the use of water and the use of electricity and sometimes we leave our television running and things like that and so I think we need to become a little bit more conscious, there are certain costs that we as a government can't control, the cost of fuel being one of them, I think as consumers we have a bit of a responsibility to make sure we're doing all that we can to save ourselves some money."
Courtney Menzies
"But the truth is that even if they are conscious of the electricity and the water they're using, these things will go up in a time when inflation is at an all time high, gas prices are up like you said, everything is rough right now."
Hon. Michel Chebat
"It is hard and government has been subsidizing many aspects of the economy as best as we can and I think we're going to do our best to try and keep down the rates as best as we can but eventually something must give."
Utilities Minister Looking At Cable Company Acquisition
And while those companies are working to see how they can sustain the current rates, BTL is looking to diversify its revenue stream. That's the reasoning behind them acquiring a cable company out in western Belize, Alternative Networks Limited. But with Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and even Firesticks, cable is fast becoming something of the past.
That's why Alternative Networks is appealing - it hardly uses any Cable. It's all wireless and IP transmission. BTL plans to offer a service call OTT - short for Over The Top - which sends cable via internet protocols.
And one more unique service that Alternative Networks Limited offers is providing users with access to security cameras around the San Ignacio Town.
It sounds strange, but Cayo District, like those in San Ignacio, can turn on their TV to a specific channel and view what's happening on various main streets This started as a means for the police to have access to the security feed - but can it also be used by criminals? Today, Minister and area rep Chebat says it is something they have to look into.
Hon. Michel Chebat - Minister of Public Utilities
"As you all know, BTL is ran by a board of directors, and I believe they have an obligation to expand their services and to increase their revenue stream. I understand that this was a deliberation by their board and they felt that this was a critical part of their services that they wanted to offer so their deliberate judgement felt that it was a good investment."
Reporter
"But as the principal owners of BTL, the government of Belize should have some kind of vested interest in this, how does this in your perspective advance the government's agenda, ensuring that communication is accessible across the country?"
Hon. Michel Chebat
"We have, as you know, we have members who sit on the board of directors who are aware of government's policies and government's plan and so their job is to ensure that when these decisions are being made, that they are aligned in the big with what government's policies and plans are."
Reporter
"This company also had access to security cameras in the Cayo District, I know for a fact it was accessible in San Ignacio for example, the argument is, anybody could access this and perhaps use this to commit crimes, is this something that perhaps the board should have considered?"
Hon. Michel Chebat
"I am sure they took it into consideration, I am sure that they did their due diligence, I can tell you that BTL is very concerned and very detailed when it comes to security and making sure that their data is well protected so I hear the concern and I have confidence that they have done their due diligence. It is a concern and I'm glad you're raising it then I suspect that BTL must take steps to ensure that is segregated and only the police have access to it."
Courtney Menzies
"Is the purpose of BTL's buying over this cable company to create, I heard somebody say, like a Netflix for Belize?"
Hon. Michel Chebat
"Well I don't know if it's limited to Netflix, but I know that it is an additional revenue stream for the company, I think across the world you see where telephone companies also offer cable services, I believe it is in that direction that they're planning to go."
Courtney Menzies
"Even though cable is basically obsolete?"
Hon. Michel Chebat
"Well, I guess there are other ways, like Netflix as you say, is one example of doing it without cable and I suspect that this is an avenue for them, this is not the end but this is just an avenue for them."
Alternative Networks did not respond to our request for comment.
Hakim on Uncut
If you tuned into last nights Episode of Uncut, you'll have heard the very interesting conversation between Host Jules Vasquez and two Belizean Scientists. One of them was Dr. Percival Cho, the former CEO of the Department of Environment during the Barrow Administration. The other was Professor Hakim Hassan.
Both are highly educated Belizean scientists who took different paths. Dr. Cho chose to come back home to make use of his post-graduate degree for the betterment of the country. He acknowledges, however, that he had difficulty finding employment that would provide a salary commensurate to his educational training and its global value.
Professor Hakim Hasan, who also grew up in Belize, chose to remain abroad, where he is pursuing a branch of cutting-edge science and technology. He is exploring the use of robotics for use in architecture. He's currently pursuing his Doctoral studies at Harvard University, and he is introducing a course at Yale University teaching Architectural Robotics.
During last night's extended conversation, Hassan, who is a graduate of Saint John's College and the University of Belize, discussed a few of the issues that can easily contribute to the infamous "brain drain":
Jules Vasquez - Host
"Your heart, your home, and your family are in Belize, but the opportunities and the compensation that you require are in the US."
Professor Hakim Hasan - Pursuing Doctoral Studies: Robotics & Architecture
"It's actually a challenge I face daily because even the specific career path that I have chosen, which is architecture and a hybrid of robotics, is not so common across the world, much less just in America. So."
Jules Vasquez
"And I just want to interject here that what you do is you create robots that build structures from timber, right? Am I correct?"
Professor Hakim Hasan
"Correct, and that's at my current research, but the overarching premise is robots building buildings. It's a future where robots will be assembling the buildings on their own, putting down blocks or wood pieces together, etc."
Jules Vasquez
"And this is at the absolute cutting-edge of robotics."
Professor Hakim Hasan
"This is one slim trajectory of implementing robotics because you have robots that are going on Mars, building on Mars, doing surgeries, all that type of stuff. So, this is just one industry that I'm tapping into, the construction and architectural industry using robotics. This is in the back of my mind, that if come to Belize with this, oh, big technology thing', who does this little boy think is? Coming to bring all of this robotics talk, this is not how we do things here. That is what is going through my mind going back to Belize. That's the honest truth, and I've seen it, unfortunately. But, I'm still optimistic that the stuff that I develop, I try to make it so bullet-proof that there's no denying that it would be beneficial to all branches invested. This stuff might seem futuristic and not applicable to Belize, but a part of what robots do well is build things really quickly. Imagine a hurricane comes, you could deploy robots to quickly create temporary relief structures to house people, to respond to disasters. So, it's not - yes, it's in development, but it's not too farfetched. It's not too far away. It's garnering the attention, the care, and the want, to use the technology in an applicable way.
Uncut repeats tonight at 8:00 on Channel 7 or you can find it on the Uncut page on Youtube.
UDP Complains About Collet?
Tonight, the UDP is raising the alarm because a prominent and highly placed PUP has been put in a key position for the re-districting process - a process which should be conducted without fear or favor.
Collet Montejo is a PUP Senator and Deputy Secretary General, but a statement form the election and boundaries commission says has been appointed as a member of the Re-Division Task Force as supervisor of all fieldwork for the gathering and providing of all information for the consideration of the task force.
The statement adds that his fieldwork will complement the work already being done by the technical experts in the areas of geographical information systems, legal studies, statistical analysis, and electoral management.
Well, the UDP member of the commission who opposed his appointment Alberto August says, quote, "This is TOTALLY out of order and a slap in the face of all Belizeans.... Montejo's appointment is a direct injection of raw politics into an exercise that, at the very least, should be perceived to be above the political fray. Montejo's infection into the project will, beyond the shadow of any doubt, politically contaminate and infect the work being done by the team of professionals who have been engaged in the project since February." End quote.
The government release adds, "Upon receipt of recommendations from the task force, the Commission is solely responsible in compliance with Section 90 of the Belize Constitution to make proposals to the National Assembly for boundary redistricting."
Alex Got Back His Camera, Suspect Escapes
On Friday we told you about filmmaker Alex Ellis. He had all his camera equipment stolen from a vehicle on Regent Street West. Well, police recovered it - they found in hidden in an abandoned bushy lot on East Collet Canal. One man has since been charged for the theft. He's 18-year-old Aaron Chavez and he appeared in court today and was denied bail. He was remanded until July 25th.
But tonight he's on the news because he escaped from police custody. He reportedly jumped out of the pan of the truck near Mile 8 on the George Price Highway. He is wanted by the police tonight.
