BELIZE CITY – Political tensions have escalated surrounding the rumored acquisition of telecommunications provider Speednet by Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL). The United Democratic Party (UDP) has formally challenged the government’s transparency regarding the potential consolidation, demanding immediate public disclosure of all details concerning the speculated deal.
Lee Mark Chang, Area Representative for Mesopotamia, delivered a forceful critique of the alleged negotiations, highlighting the conspicuous absence of concrete information. “For months we have been hearing whispers, rumors of a deal,” Chang stated. He emphasized that BTL is a national asset, with 91% Belizean ownership, and questioned the rationale behind using its resources to acquire competitors like Smart, NEXGEN, and Centaur.
The opposition’s central argument hinges on a profound lack of transparency. Chang challenged the government’s narrative, asking, “They tell us that it is a good deal for Belize. But if it is such a good deal then why all the secrets?” He pointed to the absence of a signed agreement, a public report, or a disclosed purchase price, describing the process as shrouded in secrecy.
Employing a vivid analogy, Chang compared the situation to a business owner inexplicably directing customers to a competitor, only to later be forced to buy that same rival. The core of his inquiry focused on the ultimate beneficiaries of the transaction. He posited that the primary winners would not be the Belizean public or the national economy, but rather the private family owners of the acquired companies, who would receive a “risk-free, massive payday” that would secure wealth for generations.
The UDP’s demands have thrust the rumored corporate maneuver into the political spotlight, framing it as a matter of national interest that requires rigorous public scrutiny and accountability from the current administration.