PUC Declines NTUCB Request for Meeting on BTL Acquisition

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has declined a request from the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) to meet and discuss the proposed acquisition involving Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), a move the union says undermines ongoing calls for transparency and due diligence.  According to the NTUCB, the request for a meeting formed part of its efforts to obtain critical information on the proposed transaction, particularly as it relates to regulatory oversight, workers’ interests, and the potential impact on the telecommunications sector. However, the PUC has reportedly declined to engage with the umbrella union at this stage.  NTUCB President Ella Waight spoke with Love News on the PUC’s refusal coupled with the government’s seeming rush to move on with the acquisition.  

Ella Waight, President, NTUCB: “We do not have the legislation in place to protect consumers, to protect the media, all of that is still concerning. We did request a meeting with the PUC, we didn’t have that meeting ,they did not respond favorably to a meeting at this time. So we are still left in the dark with many issues. Our concern is the rush. Take your time to do consultation with the public, not a few choice stakeholders. With the public whatever means they choose to do it and we can be a part of that in the sense that we promote a public consultation and encourage workers to attend this public consultation butt here must be public consultation. It is the matter of how we look at it public interest.”

The NTUCB has indicated that it will continue to pursue lawful avenues to obtain information and engage relevant stakeholders, as it presses for broader public consultation and regulatory clarity on the proposed BTL acquisition.