These documents are amazing.  They talk about exclusive rights to do business and to infrastructure (ARCOS), VoIP, guaranteed profits, tax breaks, sweet property deals… BTL’s raping of Belizeans is breathtaking – and here is the proof – plain and simple.

http://www.governmentofbelize.gov.bz/accomm_agreement.html

http://www.governmentofbelize.gov.bz/press_release_details.php?pr_id=5613

Government Passes Law to Takeover Telemedia

http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=14843

Expect Major Changes at BTL in 48 Hours

http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=14847

Greedy Choke Puppy…

http://www.amandala.com.bz/index.php?id=9002

Love FM Story

http://www.lovefm.com/ndisplay.php?nid=10651

Telemedia Reacts

http://www.lovefm.com/ndisplay.php?nid=10650

Will the government nationalize BTL? That’s the course of action suggested by an Amandala editorial yesterday. And while newspaper editorials don’t set government policy, our information suggests that this one was more than just a shot in the dark, it was more like a trial balloon for an idea that’s gaining some currency in government circles. Speaking with Prime Minister Dean Barrow by telephone today, he was decidedly non committal, saying that as regards the BTL impasse, his government is, “looking at all options” and “what they’ve raised (in the Amandala editorial) is not excluded.”

It would be a bold and unprecedented move, and the consequences wide and far-reaching…but is it the kind of nuclear solution the generally conservative Barrow administration would pursue? That’s left to be seen but a memo sent out to BTL employees yesterday from the employees trust discusses what it calls quote, a “rumor that government may even be considering buying Telemedia.” The trust is a 22% block of shares in the company which is nominally owned by the employees but is managed, controlled, operated and articulated from within the cockpit of some anonymous corporate mother-ship.

The memo says that Telemedia would consider such a sale at fair market value. Of course, the determination of fair market value for Telemedia varies greatly depending on whether or not the Accommodation Agreement is included in the sale. If it is left out – Telemedia’s position is that difference in the sale price is quote, “mind-bogglingly” different. And, government’s stated position is that the Accommodation Agreement is illegal and immoral and will not be entertained – which seems to dash hopes for a negotiated buy over.

And that leaves few agreeable options which our sources say means that the days ahead will likely see conflict replaced by confrontation as government may seek an enforced resolution. But whatever the case it’s clear from yesterday’s memo to staff that that Telemedia’s strategy is to use the Employee’s Trust as a powerful wedge to give the workers the sense that they have a stake in future manoeuvres.

We say that because the always mysteriously managed trust has announced that it will do what was hitherto thought to be unheard of: that is, nominate two employeea as trustees with the stated expectation that if the company is sold, a cash payment would be forthcoming to all employees.

http://www.reporter.bz/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=2966&Itemid=

By Harry Lawrence – Publisher

It is clear to the man on the street that Belize Telemedia Limited may be acting under instructions from the man who says he no longer controls B.T.L., Mr. Michael Ashcroft.

Mr. Ashcroft is the only person who has an interest in silencing Channel 7 and Kremandala TV.B.T.L. supplies Channel 5 with fiber-optic cable access because it owns Channel 5.

B.T.L. does not own the fiber-optic cable line to Belize. But it is the only company with access to this line, through its corporate headquarters on St. Thomas Street.

B.T.L. paid a lot for this fiber-optic trunk-line connection, and the company is not now willing to share it with others who are not of its ilk.

The underwater fiber-optic line is owned by a provider who is willing to splice in another trunk line, but the fee for this service is U.S. one million.

There are compelling reasons why Belize should get this second link, and we shall try to explain them here:

1. Belize Telemedia Limited has a monopolistic strangle-hold on fiber-optics in Belize. It uses this strangle-hold to reward its friends and punish the competition.

2. B.T.L. uses its strangle hold to promote the Belize Bank and its operations, not only with cheap telephone calls and unlimited Internet access, but it holds the rest of the business community to ransom by:

(a) charging exhorbitant fees for domestic and overseas calls,

(b) refusing to offer voice over internet protocol in Belize, thereby stunting the growth of communications and other communication – related businesses.

(c) enjoying an ufair advantage over all other businesses, who are forced to pay B.T.L.’s high rates.

(d) allowing the Belize Bank, or some related entity operating from 60 Market Square to grab a large chunk of the fiber-optic capacity for the dot Bz domain-name activities such as on-line gambling and tele-marketing.

(e) Because these activities are regarded as offshore businesses, B.T.L. and its Belize Bank associates pay no taxes whatsoever on what is seen as a multi-million dollar empire of smut and gambling.

(f) B.T.L. has thus become a law unto itself; a corporation operating independently within a government, thumbing its nose at the government.

(g) Telecommunications is an essential industry. Those who control it control the country’s development.

Having a second fiber-optic trunk line would end the B.T.L. monopoly. It would open up VOIP options for the entire country. It would give new scope to independent competition in the media and to new telecommunication players who might want to come in. It would save the country and government millions of dollars in lower fees. A second fiber-optic trunk line would clip B.T.L.’s wings and usher in a new dawn of cheaper telecommunications.

There is one obstacle however – money!

But if the Government of Belize could find a way to partner with the private sector, perhaps they could together manage the down-payment for another fiber-optic trunk line, and share the profits.

It appears to be a gilt-edged investment.

Original Story:

http://www.7newsbelize.com/printstory.php?func=print&nid=10968

The Public Utilities Commission is in the middle of a very tense Annual Review Process (ARP) with BEL, but the man who’s been the Chairman for the past two years, Roberto Young is leaving that post. Information reaching 7NEWS is that John Avery will take up the post as chairman as early as next week. Avery will leave his post as editor of The Guardian which, reports say, will now be taken up by Channel 7 alum, Alfonso Noble.

The Barrow Administration and the Belize Bank are presently locked in a dispute over US$10 million in grant funds from the government of Venezuela. On March 15th the Central Bank instructed the Belize Bank to return the US$10 million to government in 10 days or face the possibility of criminal charges being brought against President Phil Johnson.

Since then, a ten day extension has been granted, and that expires on Thursday. But best information suggests that the Bank will go to court to seek some relief from the directive before the extension expires.

So while there will clearly be a battle between government and Michael Ashcroft’s Belize Bank for the US$10 million, reports to 7NEWS indicate that Ashcroft may not be as ready to fight over BTL. Multiple senior sources tell 7NEWS that Ashcroft is inclined to sell off his controlling interests in BTL. He reportedly communicated this to the Prime Minister before Easter.

Government expects to see definitive progress towards this within the next three months. But, at this time, it is not a done deal, and indications are that the company is being shopped around. Now, who will buy it and under what covenants? Those are the tricky questions because best reports suggest that there are a number of consequential side agreements – including one for a guaranteed rate of return.

Those were signed by the last government and the current government knows nothing about them and claims to not even have copies of them. Many issues, and the Prime Minister’s press secretary will have a press conference tomorrow at which he will discuss the latest on efforts to recover the Venezuelan money.