Months of simmering political tension over the proposed BTL acquisition of Speednet boiled over this week, as a sitting union senator and top business leaders have raised sharp questions about the integrity of the board’s approval vote and the future of consumer protections in Belize’s reshaping telecommunications market.
Speaking publicly on the ongoing debate August 10, 2026, Union Senator Glenfield Dennison waded into the controversy, throwing his support behind BTL director Anissa Perdomo, who voted against the acquisition last Tuesday, and Allan Pollard, the People’s United Party (PUP) mayoral candidate who has publicly opposed the deal. According to Dennison, both figures have aligned with the public and union movement’s stance on the transaction, representing what he calls the will of ordinary Belizeans.
Dennison’s most critical line of attack targets the majority of BTL board members who backed the acquisition, questioning whether the voting bloc actually had access to complete, accurate information about Speednet’s financial position to make an informed, responsible decision. He argued that the board’s political makeup was structured to guarantee a preordained outcome, noting that most appointeed members hold political alignments that favor the acquisition, making the final vote a foregone conclusion.
“I don’t think they had enough information to make the decision that they made,” Dennison told reporters, adding that he is willing to reverse his position if full disclosure of the deal’s details proves the Speednet purchase is a strong investment for BTL and Belize. “If that information does prove that buying Speednet was such an excellent investment I will eat my words and take it back.”
The senator also defended the Senate walkout staged last week by opponents of the acquisition, pushing back against claims the action was unplanned or disorganized. He explained that social partners caucused during a legislative recess and collectively agreed to walk out in protest, with the movement unfolding organically amid rapidly shifting developments on the senate floor. Two separate walkouts were staged simultaneously, he confirmed, and coordination between opposition lawmakers and union representatives aligned to oppose the rushed vote.
Joining Dennison in calling for greater transparency is William Usher, Vice President of Industry at the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), who is sounding the alarm over Speednet’s unclear financial standing and the risk of a new telecom monopoly that could leave Belizean consumers with no protections. Usher emphasized that the public has not been given access to sufficient financial records to build confidence in the transaction, pointing out that any standard commercial lender would require three to five years of audited financial data to approve an $80 million investment – yet only one year of Speednet’s financial records have been made available to stakeholders.
Usher drew on Belize’s past experience with consolidated telecom markets to warn of the risks ahead, noting that when BTL previously operated as a monopoly, consumers faced higher costs and limited options. He added that current Belizean regulation lacks the necessary legal safeguards to prevent price gouging and unfair practices if the market is consolidated under a single dominant provider, specifically referencing gaps in Section 424 of existing telecom law that leave consumer interests unprotected.
“If these things are not in place, who are you whether government or the people out here to say listen you are taking advantage of me,” Usher said, echoing widespread public concern over the lack of oversight.
In response to the growing controversy, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry have announced they will coordinate their efforts on the issue, presenting a united front to push for greater transparency and stronger consumer protections ahead of any finalization of the acquisition. This article is adapted from a transcribed August 10, 2026 evening television newscast.