PM Defends Plan to Classify Media as Essential Services

Prime Minister John Briceño also weighed in today on a proposed change that would classify media houses as essential services in the telecommunications sector. He says the move is meant to prevent any company, including BTL, from unfairly cutting or restricting access to services for the media. But as concerns continue to circulate, following that recent press conference by several media houses, the Prime Minister pushed back. He questioned why those same outlets didn’t speak up when, under the previous UDP administration, BTL pulled its advertising from Greater Belize Media, then Channel Five. Here’s how he put it.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“What we suggested in Cabinet is that under the regulations we want to put the media as part of essential services so they cannot be cut 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 your bill. But you will be given enough notice to go and pay for your service. So, it was important for us to give that kind of comfort to the media that they are not going to be nation because they are for or against the government or a minister or anything.”

 

Reporter

“There have been instances when Krem television as well as Plus TV have been impacted and the belief is that it was because of their content being produced.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“That is your belief and I don’t believe you are right. But let me give you an example, no let me give you an example.  When the previous government decided that they were not going to give any ads to Channel 5, I did not hear the media come as a group to speak out against it. Nobody said anything. Yes they did not, you all did not stand up for Channel 5 and that is the truth. Editorially, but the media, I don’t mean you personally, the media as a group did not stand up for Channel 5. Our government will never subscribe ton that kind of behavior. That is why we are talking about putting in the regulations that the media is going to be put in the essential services so that they could not be taken advantage of.”