Belize’s Prime Minister John Briceño has issued a strong defense of his Public Utilities Minister Michel Chebat’s position regarding the proposed telecommunications merger involving Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL). The Prime Minister’s statements come following Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting where the controversial consolidation was discussed.
Minister Chebat previously asserted that the market consolidation would not create a monopoly, highlighting the existence of approximately twenty-three broadband providers currently operating within Belize’s telecommunications landscape. Prime Minister Briceño expanded on this position with a stark warning about BTL’s financial trajectory.
“Taxpayers invested almost seven hundred million dollars in BTL,” stated Briceño, “and if they do not make changes it is going to crash.” The Prime Minister revealed concerning internal projections showing the company’s growth flatlining for the next five years without consolidation, while operational costs continue to escalate.
The government maintains that the proposed merger with Smart is fundamentally about creating operational efficiencies rather than market domination. Briceño emphasized that broadband services remain accessible through numerous competitors, contradicting monopoly concerns raised by critics.
In response to questions about regulatory oversight, the Prime Minister confirmed plans to strengthen the Public Utilities Commission’s role and amend existing legislation where necessary. However, he reiterated that the primary objective remains preventing the collapse of a significant public investment and protecting stakeholders including Social Security and Belizean taxpayers.
The administration’s unified stance signals a determined approach to telecommunications reform, framing the merger as an economic imperative rather than merely a market restructuring exercise.