But, for many in the public - the award of a large contract to the Briceno family business has raised the kind of shrill alarm bells that the press release just can't quiet.
This afternoon, the UDP seized on a ripe political opportunity and held a press conference at its party headquarters.
Party Leader Faber said that SMART may have had the lower bid, but BTL had the better deal:
Hon. Patrick Faber, Leader of the Opposition
"We are told that Smart has won the bidding and that's because they were the lowest for the one year offering that was made. The 3 years o0fferings were dismissed and so they awarded Smart the contract for one year at a quoted price of $3.373.154.73 million. We are told that the Belize Telemedia Limited came in at $3.540.174 million. But we are told again that the value-added benefits amounted to about $80,000 offered by BTL."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Sir, are you aware of a contract termination charge that may arise in the BTL/GOB deal which I am told is $200,000?"
Hon. Patrick Faber, Leader of the Opposition
"I am told it is $250,000, Jules...but if factor that in and if you factor in the fact that there is an $80,000 value added benefit package to the quotation offered by BTL, then that helps me to make the point that I was trying to make to you earlier even better - that in fact the deal or the offer of BTL in all of this is by far a better arrangement."
