On August 18, 2026, a growing public and labor movement crisis has erupted around Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), one of Belize’s most critical utility providers, after the collapse of a planned acquisition of rival telecom firm Speednet. What began as a failed business deal has quickly evolved into a full-scale challenge to the leadership of BTL Chairman Markhelm Lizarraga, with the nation’s largest trade union bodies demanding his immediate ouster over allegations of compromised transparency and broken public trust.
At a sharply worded press conference hosted by the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB), union leaders across multiple worker organizations united in a vote of no confidence against Lizarraga. NTUCB President Ella Waight laid out the coalition’s core grievance, stating that the chairman had failed to meet basic standards of honesty, transparency, and open communication with both BTL employees and the general Belizean public. “Our position is based on a loss of confidence,” Waight emphasized, noting that widespread distrust has penetrated the company’s workforce and extended to the broader Belizean community.
The Belize Communication Workers Union (BCWU), which represents 60 percent of BTL’s total employee base, echoed Waight’s condemnation. BCWU General Secretary Harrison August commended two BTL board members who had publicly rejected the acquisition deal, praising them for their courage to oppose the transaction. August argued that Lizarraga’s management of the acquisition process violated every standard of responsible leadership, pointing to a complete lack of timely information sharing, meaningful worker consultation, and good-faith engagement on a decision that directly impacts BTL staff and all Belizean consumers.
The controversial Speednet acquisition was first pitched to the Belizean Cabinet by Lizarraga and BTL CEO Ivan Tesucum on August 11, 2026. At that time, the pair framed the deal as a strategically sound move that would deliver broad economic benefits to Belize’s telecom sector and lower costs for consumers. But following the deal’s collapse, critics have set aside debates over market logic to center their attacks on Lizarraga’s personal integrity.
When pressed on allegations of compromised integrity earlier this month, Lizarraga pushed back, pointing to his five-year record of turning around BTL’s performance. “You will judge me by the works and the results of what we are trying to do,” he said in an August 11 appearance, dismissing the criticism as unfounded attacks on his tenure.
But union leaders have refused to soften their stance, with Union Senator Glenfield Dennison raising the pressure by demanding that Lizarraga step down without any post-departure benefits. “He needs to do the honorable thing and resign and get no benefits,” Dennison stated, calling on Lizarraga to forfeit all pensions and severance payments upon his exit.
As the conflict intensifies, all attention has shifted to the Belizean government, which holds the legal authority to appoint and remove BTL’s board chair. Prime Minister John Briceño now faces a critical decision: whether to uphold support for the embattled chairman or bow to growing public and labor pressure to remove him from office. This report was compiled from on-the-ground reporting by Paul Lopez of News Five.