Independent Senators and Evangelicals Reject BTL-SMART Deal

The opposition to the proposed acquisition of Speednet (SMART) by Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) continued to widen with both the country’s Independent Senators and the National Evangelical Association of Belize (NEAB) publicly rejecting the move, citing concerns about monopoly control, legality, and conflicts of interest.  In a joint statement, the four Independent Senators, Kevin Herrera, Louis Wade, Glenfield Dennison, and Janelle Chanona, called on the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to strictly comply with Section 19 of the Telecommunications Act, which mandates a competition impact assessment before any merger or acquisition that could significantly lessen competition is approved.  The senators aligned themselves with earlier calls from the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, and the Opposition, urging that no definitive or binding decisions be taken by the BTL Board or the Social Security Board until there is full legal compliance and an independent valuation of the proposed transaction.  They further warned that transforming Belize’s telecommunications sector into a monopoly would be regressive and contrary to Section 42(4) of the Telecommunications Act, reaffirming their commitment to challenge any action that runs against the spirit and letter of Belizean law.  Meanwhile, the National Evangelical Association of Belize also issued a strongly worded press release outright rejecting the proposed acquisition, describing the creation of a national telecommunications and telemedia monopoly as an absolute “deal breaker”.  According to NEAB President Reverend Santiago Valencia, the association believes the acquisition would not benefit the Belizean people, but rather political insiders, warning that reduced competition would inevitably lead to higher consumer rates.  The association also raised serious concerns about what it described as glaring conflicts of interest among decision-makers who stand to benefit from the transaction.  The evangelical body made clear that no adjustment in price, disclosure, or consultation would change its position, maintaining firm opposition to any arrangement that results in monopoly control of the telecommunications sector.  As consultations continue, the statements add to growing public pressure on regulators and policymakers to pause the process and ensure full transparency, legal compliance, and the preservation of competition within Belize’s telecommunications industry.