In a significant regulatory intervention, Belize Prime Minister John Briceño has mandated a comprehensive pause in telecommunications discussions, emphasizing the necessity for proper oversight and transparency. The decision effectively resets ongoing negotiations between telecommunications entities and brings the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) into a central regulatory role.
Prime Minister Briceño characterized previous approaches as putting “the cart ahead of the horse,” highlighting that the PUC should have been involved from the outset to provide essential legal and regulatory scrutiny. Drawing parallels to established procedures for Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), where the PUC examines multi-million dollar equipment purchases and rate increase proposals, the Prime Minister emphasized that telecommunications require identical oversight mechanisms.
The suspension aims to address what government officials describe as widespread misinformation from multiple stakeholders. Minister responsible for Public Utilities, Michel Chebat, initiated the halt to enable the PUC to thoroughly evaluate proposals from Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) and determine whether they align with national interests. The commission is expected to provide recommendations for a structured way forward once its assessment is complete.
This intervention also addresses longstanding regulatory gaps in the telecommunications sector. PM Briceño referenced previous litigation where Smart successfully argued that BTL operates as a dominant provider, a case that resulted in court recognition of market imbalance. However, the previous administration failed to implement necessary legislation or regulations to create equitable conditions between industry players, creating the current regulatory vacuum that now requires resolution.