1 . APRIL 9, 2006 . THE SUNDAY TIMES 6 NEWS McCaffrey, left, says her training with Quinn, right, was an ‘absolute transformation’ that led ultimately to her company striking oil in the Central American state of Belize Has mind guru’s teaching paid off in giant oil strike? WAS it a case of mind over mat- 1950s to the 1990s of hundreds Kerrygold, which has to be John Briceno, Belize’s minister ter? A tiny company set up by Enda Leahy of millions of dollars.” 25 miles refined,” said McCaffrey. “The of natural resources, calculates two Irish women and three geol- Quinn’s philosophy, which quality of their oil is just 15-25 that at current prices the govern- ogists in 2002 has struck oil in quit the country in disappoint- promotes what he calls “mind API [a measurement of oil ment’s take from even small- Belize, with the help of contro- ment after failing to find a technology”, has been criticised MEXICO purity]. Here we’re sitting on scale pumping of around versial lifestyle guru Tony gusher, but BNE scored three as brainwashing but is oil which is closer to 40. To get 60,000 bpd would fund the Quinn. times in its first three attempts, defended by adherents as posi- an idea of what that means, die- country’s budget. Succeeding where multi- and the government believes it tive and life-changing. sel in a refined state is 42.” “If we could produce even billion dollar corporations had could soon be producing Complaints about Quinn’s Belize Producers in surrounding 20,000 bpd, you can imagine City failed, the company has found 20,000 barrels of oil per day techniques have come from the G countries have only discovered what we could do with that,” he commercial quantities of high- (bpd). likes of Dialogue Ireland, a cult U oilfields that yield up to 200 said in a recent interview. “It quality crude in the small Cen- Enniskillen-born Sheila watchdog, which says seminars A BELIZE Gulf of bpd, while BNE is pumping could make a huge difference T Honduras tral American state, population McCaffrey, a director of BNE, in the Bahamas costing ¤18,500 E 1,000 bpd. McCaffrey esti- for our little country.” 290,000. They claim their suc- said the company’s success was are proof of the “idiot effect” M mates at least 70m barrels lie Last week BNE volunteered cess was partly due to a mind- not pot luck. — “the phenomenon of entre- A under their exploration area. to give 1% of its earnings to a L training course from Quinn. “Seven years ago I trained preneurs losing the plot and A “You’d expect in a situation fund for medical and environ- Belize Natural Energy with Tony Quinn; it was an direction in life when they pay like this it must be people mental initiatives in the state. It (BNE), backed by American absolute transformation. It com- inflated prices for courses avail- vastly experienced in the oil has already handed over the and Irish investors, claims to pletely changed my life and it’s able for a few euros in a paper- Usher died suddenly in June industry and backed by people first $500,000 (¤413,480), even have found so much oil that the the only reason I’m in Belize back”. 2004 but one year on BNE who are industry professionals. before its contract comes into Belize government reckons its today,” she said last week. McCaffrey and Belfast-born drilled its first hole, named That is just the opposite of us,” effect. 7.5% cut from the discovery “The history showed us that geologist Susan Morrice, who Mike Usher 1 in his memory, she said. The Irish company has been will pay the entire national 50 companies failed spectacu- met working on oil and gas and struck oil on the anniver- “The result is what you’re remarkably quick about turning budget for a year. larly to find anything commer- exploration projects in Ireland, sary of his death. Mike Usher 2 starting to see now, transposing its discovery into cash. In Janu- A succession of oil majors cial, with a budget line from the set up the company with Mike and 3, the second and third itself out of the ground. People ary, it shipped 40,000 barrels to Usher, a Belizian geologist who holes, proved they not only had can be as sceptical about it as Houston, earning $2m. was convinced the country was struck oil but that it was of the they like, quite frankly, but I The 7.5% royalty it has to oil-rich. They had financing highest quality possible. would be prepared to just sit pay Belize is much less than in from Morrice’s husband, a “In all the surrounding coun- back and say the results will other oil-producing countries. Colorado oil executive, and tries you’ve got heavy crude oil speak for themselves.” Royalties to Norway for explo- more than 80 Irish investors. the consistency of butter, like So is the local government. ration in the North Sea are 70%. Shell’s Rossport spin doctor calls for alternative pipeline Loftus has been given a Aine Ryan three-year contract and is paid ¤58,000 per annum. He says A SPIN DOCTOR appointed to that during his interview with improve Shell’s image in Shell he was “uncompromising Mayo, where it is engaged in a and confrontational”, and told long-running battle to bring gas the company he wouldn’t onshore, has predicted that its defend their mistakes and pipeline will never run through wouldn’t be their apologist or Rossport. spin doctor in north Mayo. Christy Loftus, recently Morale remains high among appointed as external affairs anti-Shell protesters, Har- adviser by Shell, has advised rington said. The Rossport Soli- his employers to start looking darity Camp was reopened at for alternative routes. “I’ve told the beginning of the month Shell that I believe the pipeline after many of its members spent will never be laid along that Loftus, left, has yet to convert Harrington to Shell’s view the winter on lecture tours route, and I think they are listen- around England and Europe ing to me,” he said. Maura Harrington, a Shell to when Shell lifted the injunction espousing the cause. “All we But the former Western Peo- Sea spokeswoman who is a gael- against them. Shell was need now is our first camp ple journalist has also warned goir and teacher, said she had awarded costs. baby,” said Harrington. that attempts by Shell to Sea, a considered acknowledging Lof- Loftus said he was relieved Mary Corduff, wife of one of protest group, to have the gas tus’s letter with a “fuaireas do that Judge Finnegan did not the Rossport Five, said it was processed offshore will never litir”. This is traditional civil return the men to jail. “It would typical of Shell’s cynicism to be considered by the company service speak for “I got your let- have been a public relations use Mayo natives in an attempt because of the economic impli- ter, but don’t want to know”. nightmare for Shell. The reality to drive a wedge among the peo- cations. Other locals are scathing is, there will be no progress ple. “The only people Shell Loftus, who is attending Irish about Loftus and another public until these men sit across a feels sorry for is themselves,” classes to improve his ability to relations appointee, retired table from Shell and negotiate. said Corduff. communicate with locals, chief superintendent John I see that as the only way for- Loftus says he has a clear con- admits he has made little or no Carey, from the Belmullet area. ward,” Loftus said. science about his new position. progress since his appointment Last Friday, the president of The Rossport Five are now He said he has supported the in February. the High Court ruled that the concerned that Shell will pur- Shell development from the out- In early March, he sent letters Rossport Five should not have sue them for costs. “We may set and believes it will bring to the Rossport Five, the five to serve any more time in jail have to go to jail again,” said economic benefits to the men who are objecting to the for their contempt of court after Willie Corduff, one of the five, county. “However, if I were in construction of the pipeline their protests prevented Shell yesterday. the shoes of the any one of the through Rossport, and a from carrying on its business in Shell confirmed its legal Rossport Five and I had safety number of Shell to Sea activ- Mayo. The court took into team will review Friday’s rul- concerns about a gas pipeline ists, suggesting informal meet- account that they had served 94 ing on costs. “We will urgently running close to my house, I ings. He has received no days in prison last year. They seek clarification on this mat- would have acted in the same replies. were released last September ter,” said a spokeswoman. way,” he said. Editor warned on ‘little Welshies’ A PANELLIST on the BBC’s “I will write to them and tell “The Welsh, I can tell you, Odone had agreed to appear Question Time has been given a them that this is an absolute are whooping it up already,” only at the last moment after Al- dressing down by British police waste of their time and this is said Odone. “They are saying, lison Pearson, another news- for referring to inhabitants of not the role of the police,” said ‘We are going to have a whole paper columnist, had dropped Wales as “little Welshies”, Odone, 45.