And, the proposed acquisition was also the top line item at a UDP press conference today. Party leader Tracy Panton focused on the PUC's silence. She said it's the PUC which should have made the call to put a pause on the acquisition, not the prime minister. Here's how Panton put it.
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition
"First we were told this was a private transaction. The primary individual involved is now requesting, and we know who that is, none other than the prime minister of this country, the Honorable John Briceno, is now requesting a pause in the transaction to allow the acquisition process to go to public consultation to be conducted in a respectful and transparent manner, underscoring the importance of what we have called for from the very beginning, parliamentary oversight. All of a sudden, we need accountability and transparency and we need to consult because you the Belizean people have stood up for what is right and what is fair and what is just."
"This shifting, the constant shifting of this transaction begs questions on the approach to valuation. It begs questions on the financing structure for this deal. It begs questions on the future of earnings of this public institution and who should be the beneficiaries."
"What is even more disconcerting and where I want to focus my remarks this morning is the deafening silence of the telecommunications regulator, the public utilities commission. As it relates to the PUC, we have not seen a formal review process. We have not heard of any public consultations relating to this acquisition. We have not been privy to any detailed analysis of the competition issues. We have not been advised on any safeguards that are being proposed for consumer protection."
The UDP had the floor all to themselves this morning after the National Trade Union Congress of Belize cancelled a a protest that was scheduled for this morning at the administration building in Belmopan. President Ella Waight said they decided to hold off for now and continue consultations, hoping to get a meeting with the workers at SMART and the PUC.
It has also been reported that only 273 teachers responded to the BNTU's online survey with approximately sixty-three percent indicating they were opposed to taking protest action against the proposed acquisition at this time.
