2 weeks ago
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The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) sent a message to BTL this morning, stating, quote, “The union is demanding full disclosure of beneficial ownership, an independent external audit, and a transparent national consultation involving workers, consumers, social partners, civil society, and the business community. The union warned that it will mobilize its membership and the wider public and pursue peaceful and lawful actions, including demonstrations and legal advocacy, if necessary. It also cautioned that it will hold the government fully accountable should the transaction result in higher rates, reduced service quality, or diminished value of workers’ pension funds.” End of quote. The threat comes as part of a response to the BTL press conference. In a 2-page document, the union cited several areas of concern and essentially has called on the company for greater transparency. The union has warned that the transaction could place Belizean workers’ pensions and national telecommunications services at risk. Love News spoke with NTUCB’s President Ella Waight on the release.
Ella Waight, President, NTUCB: “We cannot say the purchase of Smart is not a good investment. It may be, it just may be, but we do not have the information to make that determination ourselves because we do not have, they have not provided us the information and as far as we understand they have not provided the Social Security Board with the information they need to say we can go ahead and invest 36%, we can go ahead and risk our 36% shares that we have at BTL. So it’s a lack of information, a lack of transparency, and of course the perception of conflict of interest. It is overwhelming. It is suffocating, and because again we don’t have the information that we need that perception will only increase until it becomes a reality, and sadly that may be the case, and that that is where and why NTUCB has said halt it. We need to stop. Why the rush? Give us the information, let Belizeans decide on the way forward. We did speak to our brothers and sisters at the Belize Communications Workers Union because they are the professionals, they work at BTL. They have information that they can provide to us. Of course, as NTUCB, we have to take into consideration workers, the workers that are at BTL and the workers that may come over to BTL from Smart or the other entities. But our brothers and sisters say the same thing. It’s not a bad idea to purchase Smart because if it is profitable, it only increases our profit that we have at the Social Security Board, which again we say benefits workers. But again, they themselves were not provided with the information.”
According to the NTUCB, the proposed deal goes beyond a routine corporate transaction and represents a direct threat to workers’ retirement savings, particularly because the Social Security Board owns 36 percent of BTL shares, meaning workers’ contributions could be exposed to what the union described as speculative financial risk. The umbrella union body expressed alarm at the lack of an independent valuation, full disclosure, and parliamentary oversight surrounding the proposed acquisition. It also pointed to the absence of modern competition and merger-control legislation in Belize, arguing that this regulatory gap leaves consumers vulnerable to monopolistic practices, higher prices, and reduced service quality. Another angle that surfaced among the multiple concerns was the perceived public interest where the Prime Minister and the BTL Chairman are concerned. Notably, SMART is owned by close family relatives of the Prime Minister while Nexgen also known as CTI is owned by the Chairman’s brother.
Tim Dami, General Secretary: “It’s important that there be a light shown on these types of things. We have to be mindful that when we are in the public eye and we’re making decisions that involve public funds and public companies, public private companies, if you want to call it that, that every effort be made to show that you’re being above board. And so to have an appearance of impropriety, that’s enough to sound alarms. And those who are, the light is shining negatively on, should be the ones leading the fight to show that there is nothing to hide. We’re seeing it all over the world where there are individuals and governments and entities that cover things up or do not allow for a fairness or an openness or a sense of transparency to ensure the integrity of what is going on. And so the best way to do that is to let people know and to disclose what is your interest in this decision. And this way it removes the rumors, the shush. It takes it out of the equation because you’re being upfront, meet it upfront and be upfront about it with what do you and your family or your partners have to gain by this particular sale going through.”
Additionally, the NTUCB criticized the Briceño administration for what it described as a failure to ensure meaningful public consultation, saying the national interest must take precedence over political or private considerations in any consolidation within a critical public-utility sector.
English (US) ·