By Breaking Belize News Staff: Belize’s four independent Senators have categorically rejected suggestions that Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) invited them to discuss its proposed acquisition of Speednet Communications Limited, operators of SMART, and that they declined to meet with the company.
In a joint statement issued Wednesday, Senators Kevin Herrera, Glenfield Dennison, Rev. Louis Wade and Janelle Chanona said no verbal or written invitation has ever been received by any of them, their respective organizations, or through a third party acting on BTL’s behalf to discuss any aspect of the proposed acquisition.
The clarification follows comments made Tuesday by BTL Chairman Markhelm Lizarraga, who told Channel 7 that BTL had extended its hand to the independent Senators on several occasions but they had not accepted. Lizarraga also said the company had written to the Senate offering to make a presentation.
Correspondence subsequently provided to Channel 7 shows that on February 5, BTL Chief Executive Officer Ivan Tesucum wrote Senate President Carolyn Trench Sandiford requesting an opportunity to brief the “Honourable Members of the Senate” on the proposed Speednet acquisition. On February 10, Sandiford acknowledged the request and indicated that she would discuss it with the Clerk of the National Assembly and respond.
However, after the independent Senators sought clarification, Parliamentary Officer Tiarrah Bedran responded on behalf of the Clerk that the Office had, to date, received no invitations or meeting requests from BTL or anyone acting on its behalf addressed to the independent Senators.
In their statement Wednesday, the Senators said any decisions taken by third parties, including the National Assembly or Office of the President of the Senate, concerning communications received from BTL must be answered for by those parties.
The four Senators have now taken the initiative to seek information directly. They said separate letters were sent Wednesday to the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission, the Attorney General, BTL’s Board Chairman and the Office of the Prime Minister requesting information relevant to the proposed acquisition of Speednet.
The Senators also reiterated their opposition to the transaction, declaring that any move to transform Belize’s telecommunications sector into a monopoly would be “regressive.” They had previously raised concerns surrounding competition, valuation and the legality of the proposed transaction.
BTL’s Board approved advancing the proposed purchase of 100 percent of Speednet’s issued share capital on August 4, valuing the investment at approximately $80 million, although the transaction remains subject to continued due diligence and final approval of a Share Purchase Agreement.
The controversy comes as Cabinet continues considering the proposed acquisition. Cabinet is expected to deliberate on the matter on Tuesday, August 18, while Minister of Public Utilities Michel Chebat said this week that additional information was still outstanding before a final decision could be made.
The post Were independent Senators deliberately kept in the dark on Speednet acquisition? BTL says it sent invitation to brief Senate; Senators say they never received it – Who dropped the ball? appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Belize’s four independent Senators have categorically rejected suggestions that Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) invited them to discuss its proposed acquisition of Speednet Communications Limited, operators of SMART, and that they declined to meet with the company. In a joint statement issued Wednesday, Senators Kevin Herrera, Glenfield Dennison, Rev. Louis Wade
The post Were independent Senators deliberately kept in the dark on Speednet acquisition? BTL says it sent invitation to brief Senate; Senators say they never received it – Who dropped the ball? appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
