In a sharply worded press conference at its Belize City headquarters, the United Democratic Party has launched a vigorous offensive against Prime Minister John Briceño’s administration regarding the controversial BTL-Speednet acquisition deal. The UDP leadership has rejected the Prime Minister’s recent call for a temporary halt to negotiations, characterizing it as improper governmental meddling in what should be an independent regulatory process.
Party leader Tracy Taegar-Panton asserted that the Prime Minister’s intervention demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of proper governance procedures, insisting that the Public Utilities Commission should maintain exclusive jurisdiction over the acquisition without political interference. The UDP simultaneously claimed credit for forcing the administration’s change in approach, citing recent public protests organized by the party as the catalyst for the government’s newfound interest in transparency.
‘Remarkably, the nation’s Prime Minister himself now calls for a suspension of this transaction to facilitate public consultation conducted with respect and transparency,’ stated Panton. ‘This sudden emphasis on accountability and parliamentary oversight aligns precisely with what we have demanded from the outset. This continual shifting of position raises serious concerns about the valuation methodology, the financial architecture of this arrangement, and ultimately who stands to benefit from this proposed acquisition of a public institution.’
The escalating political confrontation highlights growing tensions over the proposed telecommunications merger, with the opposition vowing to maintain pressure on the administration despite the Prime Minister’s attempted intervention in the process.