Patrick Faber Says UDP Will Oppose BTL Deal

As opposition resistance to the proposed acquisition of SMART by Belize Telemedia Limited continues, senior UDP figures say the party remains committed to opposing the deal, despite financial constraints.  UDP Senator Patrick Faber told Love News that while the United Democratic Party is operating with limited financial resources, it is still making every effort to make its position clear to the government.  Faber says the UDP will continue to use whatever means are available to register its opposition to the acquisition and to keep the issue in the public domain.

Patrick Faber, Opposition Senator: “We are doing what we can do with the resources that we have, but as you know, it is a spirited bunch out here. And Belizeans all over in solidarity, you notice the vehicles passing or honking their horns. There is as well social media activity. You’ve seen letters of solidarity for this cause from every stakeholder group pretty much in the country. So we know that we are on the right side of history here and we’re asking the government, we’re asking Chairman Bacon, we’re asking all the board members to do the right thing and to save our telecommunication industry by not ripping it in the manner in which we are doing. What they sell us, what they presented to the UDP when they met with the UDP in fact was a PowerPoint presentation. Basically, we don’t know what those real benefits or non-benefits are because they have withheld information and that in itself allows us to speculate. Belizeans want to know the details, you pledge to be accountable and so without that information you can’t come and tell us that this is good for Belizeans. In fact, it is the opposite We will always suspect that something is afoot when you don’t want to give us the full bill and receipt and all the details.”

Reporter: Are these actions premature without the full details being known by the world? 
Patrick Faber, Opposition Senator: “Maybe then you should say that our action is to is to champion us getting that information. In fact, we’ve sought it in many ways. You’ve seen the social partners ask for it in many ways, and it is not forthcoming. So our action is to say, be accountable, don’t proceed with the deal, and it can never be premature. We are asking for the information, we’re asking you to stop it, we’re asking you to make it go through the full process then let the Belizean people see, let the chamber see, let the churches see, let everybody who has a stake, the Belizean people, the UDP, everybody, see what’s going on before you rush to this decision.”

Faber added that the UDP believes the proposed acquisition is not in the best interest of the country and says the party will continue to push back through public engagement and political advocacy.  The proposed acquisition remains under consideration, with no final decision announced.