And while the Prime Minister still has some hope for the bond offering, he couldn't argue that all is not well with Intelco. The company which government ministers personally promoted as the hope for competition is flailing financially and close to going belly up. But according to the Prime Minister, the dream of competition is not over; Intelco just has to find a bailout buyer and quick.
Keith Swift,
Is the dream of competition over?
Hon. Said Musa, Prime Minister
"I don't think so. I believe if the present owners or managers of Intelco find that they can't make it, presumably now they are looking at the possibility of selling the facility."
Keith Swift,
Can you assure taxpayers that if Intelco goes belly up they won't be saddled with that debt?
Hon. Said Musa,
"Yes. The commitment that we have given to Intelco is that whatever is due to them, based on services that they provide to government, we are prepared to meet their debt obligation to that extent. If they are not providing a service to government then the government and the taxpayers of Belize will not be carrying their..."
Keith Swift,
...But is Intelco providing services to government?
Hon. Said Musa,
"Yes of course. I use the phone everyday. They have an intercom system for the offices that is strictly Intelco."
Keith Swift,
What about interconnection?
Hon. Said Musa,
"I believe they were pretty much near to it. But as you yourself pointed out Intelco I believe is the one now that hasn't proceeded with it. I am not too sure about that but the impression I have is that because of the present difficulties they have, they haven't proceeded with interconnection."
Up to today Intelco had still not paid its 120 employees their mid month salaries which was due 8 days ago.
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