And the PM also responded to Faber's questions about Smart. He gave the same narrative he has in the past - that he has no stake in Speednet, he doesn't get a dollar from it, and that he wasn't even aware of what was happening until the deal was done. But he also said that contrary to reports, Smart is a Microsoft office provider just like BTL.
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"He is speaking about accountability and transparency and making an issue about BTL versus SMART as if somehow I have my hand in some way with this matter. And Mr. Smith from CITO met the media, he took out a release and clearly pointed out how this process went about. I wasn't even aware that the Microsoft license for Office 365 was coming to an end. I have absolutely no idea. But the problem with BTL is that they are used to fleecing the government of Belize and they believe that any price that they put that they can get it. That's what happens with the ministry of foreign affairs, that the ministry of foreign affairs met with the people of BTL, met with the people of SMART and because they are with SMART at this moment, they are saving $3,000 every single month and that's a fact."
"What has been reported to me: the contract was coming to an end and of course the government should have done this months ago to ask for bids and they didn't. They did it last minute when the contract was coming to an end. I haven't seen anything. This is what was told to me. CITO, as the technical office sent out the bids and 3 of them: BTL, SMART and some other company, I think its from Trinidad - put in a bid. SMART is a reseller of Microsoft services. They are a reseller of Microsoft Office, just the way BTL is and based on what was ask the 3 companies put in a bid and it was open, transparent in front of everybody and Speednet did put a better bid than all of them and that is why the contract was awarded to SMART."
SMART is indeed listed as a licensed provider on the Microsoft website - but the company did not mention that in their release last week.
