BELIZE CITY – In a significant address addressing democratic processes, Senator Janelle Chanona has emphasized the critical importance of substantive public consultation in national decision-making. The remarks come amid mounting concerns regarding Belize Telemedia Limited’s proposed acquisition of Speednet/SMART, a transaction that would fundamentally transform the nation’s telecommunications landscape.
Senator Chanona, representing NGO interests, articulated that authentic consultation must constitute a genuine two-way dialogue rather than perfunctory engagement. She stressed that elected officials must actively listen to and thoroughly consider stakeholder perspectives before reaching irreversible determinations that affect public interests.
The senator further highlighted journalism’s vital role in democratic oversight, noting that media platforms frequently become essential channels for public discourse when formal consultation mechanisms prove inadequate. She cautioned against the problematic pattern where consultation only occurs amidst emerging scandals, by which point public trust has already been substantially eroded.
Addressing criticisms that consultation impedes governance, Chanona firmly rejected assertions that public engagement is unnecessarily costly, time-consuming, or constitutes personal attacks on officials. Her position aligns with recent statements by Dr. Louis Zabaneh characterizing consultation as “the heart of our modern democracy.”
This philosophical stance gains practical significance as major Belizean institutions including the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National Trade Union Congress of Belize demand suspension of binding decisions until comprehensive consultations are finalized. Both organizations have emphasized transparency necessities and warned against precipitous actions regarding the telecommunications consolidation.