And so while Cabinet waits to hear from the BTL bosses, there is the broader issue of whether consolidation of the two phone companies is a good idea for Belize. It will re-create a telecom monopoly in Belize, which a previous PUP administration got rid of two decades ago.
It's a major national and public interest policy issue - the PM seems to be fine with it being decided by a handful of politically appointed directors of the BTL board. In fact, he suggested that legislation, via an SI, is already being drafted.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well it is not a matter of consolidation. Our responsibility is to ensure that BTL can be as profitable as possible but at the same time we have to ensure that the consumers are protected at all times, that they are not price gouged and that they give the best service possible. Technology changes, so it's a lot of investment has to take place to be able to keep up. And that is where the Public Utilities Commission comes in."
"In my discussion with the, with the, with Minister Chebat he said that the PUC is already working in setting up a regulation- I'm sorry an SI - whereby that he will sign probably next week whereby they were saying that there will be no rate increase probably for the next 12 months in the telecom industry, with or without any consolidation. Whilst I think now more than ever you start to realize that probably we need to start to put some regulations in that industry, in that sector the same way you have it in the water and energy sectors."
And while the Prime Minister talks about BTL's profits, we note that last year the company boasted its profits were 31 million dollars with 13 million paid out in dividends.
