And in other news relating to BTL - yesterday BTL's Chairman falsely insinuated that the reason for Channel 7's telephone and internet services being cut was due to unpaid bills. That is despite a letter sent to this company two days ago saying that the cut was due to a service error on their part.
But it does bring up for scrutiny the issue that if Belize goes back to a telecoms monopoly - could the media be targeted with denials or disruptions of service?
Well today the PM said that the Cabinet is looking to include media houses in essential services so that something like that never happens again:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"An important point we discussed in cabinet, when Mr. Vasquez was alleging that he was illegally cutting services, for, for whatever reasons. The chairman, explained that what happened is that there was, at that moment, there were transferring, to a new system, an automated system that once you reach your where your, when, when you're not paying your bill, there would automatically be automated system would automatically called. And there was an error in Mr. Vasquez account. He was cut for about two hours. He was. He was without service."
"But from that discussion on Mr. Vasquez trying to create the feeling as if we're out to get him, what we suggested in cabinet is that, under the regulations, we want to put the media as one of the, of a, as a part of essential services. So that they cannot, we just can't just arbitrarily, there has to be a process. Obviously, if you don't pay your bill, they will cut your service because you have to pay for your bill, but you will be given enough notice to be able to pay for your services. So it's important for us to give that sort of comfort to the media that they were not going to be sanctioned because they are for or against the government or our minister or anything."
Reporter
"But PM, in the letter that they sent to Mr. Vasquez, it was said that it was disconnected because of an error on their part. And in the letter they also stated that he didn't have any arrears."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"But that's what I just explained. And my explanation was that at that time, they were just transferring into the new automated system, and they made an error that they did not credit. They did not put a credit into his account. So the computer system just automatically cut it. So as soon as that was brought to the attention, they fixed it and they apologized to Mr. Vasquez."
"When the previous government decided that they were not going to give an answer to an insider, I think that here the media come as a group, so to speak, out against it. Nobody said anything. No. Our government. No. They didn't. You all did not stand up for Channel Five. And that is the truth. Editorially. But you did not stand up, the media. I mean, you personally, the media as a group did not stand up for channel Five. Our government has was never subscribed to that kind of behavior. And that is why know we are talking about, putting in the regulations that the media is going to be a part of essential services."
