PM Says No Final Decision Yet on BTL – Speednet Acquisition

Prime Minister John Briceño has provided the media with an update following Belize Telemedia Limited’s (BTL) presentation to Cabinet yesterday, reiterating that no final decision has yet been taken on the proposed acquisition plan.  Speaking to reporters, the Prime Minister said Cabinet has received the presentation but will await the completion of BTL’s ongoing consultations before making any determination. He emphasized that the proposal remains on the table as a possibility, but that Cabinet will only move forward after the consultation process is concluded.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize:“Again, as you know, when we speak in cabinet, it’s confidential and we can’t really disclose everything. But what I can tell you is that it was a two-and-a-half hour discussion, a presentation. Ministers asked many questions and all of the questions were answered to their satisfaction. Now, we believe that we need to allow BTL to continue what ever other presentations they need before we make public our position.”

In a second response, Prime Minister Briceño addressed questions surrounding the legislative framework tied to the proposal, clarifying that any immediate legal adjustments would likely take the form of a Statutory Instrument, rather than full legislation going before the House of Representatives.  The Prime Minister explained that such an instrument would relate primarily to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and its regulatory role, rather than broader legislative changes.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “With the policy makers from our end is the policy what we do through the PUC, Public Utilities Commission. The minister pointed out to cabinet that they are already working in signing an SI. An SI which I believe we’re due anyway with or without a consolidation. I think it’s time now to be able to look at the telecommunication sector to see what kind of better, what regulations you can put to be able to better manage that industry. The telecommunications, now, as you can appreciate is moving away now from telco to a tech company. It’s moving from being telecoms to different, to providing technical services. They make the case that their talk time revenues has gone down considerably more to 70/80 percent. As a company they have to reinvent themselves. Remember when Dell Computers had their Dell Computers they removed the “Computers” now it’s Dell because now they do a lot of things, they produce more than just computers, likewise with the telecommunications company. Likewise, with the telecommunication company so what he was referring on that is that we as a government through the PUC now have to be able to set up the policies and what kind of regulations we want to put in place. But form that discussion and Mr.Vasquez trying to create the feeling as though we’re out to get him what we suggested in Cabinet is that under the regulations we want to put the media as part of essential services so that they cannot be cut just arbitrarily there has to be a process. Obviously if you don’t pay your bill they will cut your service because you have to pay your bill but you would be given enough notice for you to be able to go and pay for your services. So it’s important for us to give that kind of comfort to the media that they were not going to be sanctioned because they are for or against the government or a minister or anything.”

Reporter: There have been instances where Krem Television as well as Plus TV have been impacted and the belief is that it was because of their content being produced. 

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “That’s your belief, I don’t think you’re right but for example let me give you an example. When the pervious government decided that they’re not going to give any ads to Channel 5 I did not see the media come as a group to speak out against it. Nobody said anything. You all did not stand up of Channel 5 and that is the truth. Editorially but you did not stand up, the media not you personally, the media as a group did not stand up for Channel 5. Our government will never subscribe to that kind of behavior and that is why now we’re talking about putting in the regulations that the media is going to be a part of essential services so that they could not be taken advantage of or perceived advantage of from members from members in the media. So we want to give you that protection to ensure you can do your job freely and that’s from our end what we want.”

Government officials maintain that discussions are still ongoing, and that Cabinet’s eventual decision will be guided by the outcome of consultations, regulatory considerations, and the national interest.