And turning now from the public sector to the private, we've heard a lot of chatter lately about a possible BTL buyout of its competitor SMART.
That would be a mega-deal that would re-map Belize's telecommunications landscape. But, after a year of rumors, is it going to happen?
And we figure the man who would know definitively is the Prime Minister. His family partially owns and operates SMART, and he appoints a number of persons to serve on the BTL Board of Directors - since that is a majority government held private company.
He said it's not happening, at least not right now:
Cherisse Halsall
"Is BTL going to be buying SMART?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Not that I am aware of."
Cherisse Halsall:
"Sir, but because your family has private interests in Smart, we would have to think that if such a sale is going to happen, you would have to be aware of it."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well, I don't have to be aware of it because we don't run BTL, there is a board of directors to make that decision but I can assure you right now that as far as I know there, BTL, is not, will not be purchasing SMART at this moment, at this time."
