BCCI Supports GoB’s Pause on BTL–Speednet Deal

The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry has backed the Government’s decision to halt discussions on Belize Telemedia Limited’s proposed acquisition of Speednet/SMART. Prime Minister John Briceño instructed the pause on Friday during the house sitting.

In its latest statement, BCCI reiterated that the deal cannot proceed without proper regulation, transparency and public scrutiny.

“The Chamber maintains that significant legislative and regulatory questions must be addressed before any consolidation can proceed—particularly given Belize currently lacks modern competition and merger control laws,” it said.

BCCI urged the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to push for legislative reform before considering approval.

The Chamber also raised concerns once more over the valuation of Speednet, which currently stands at an estimate of $80 million, stating that the proposed transaction “requires independent verification and full public scrutiny.”

The Chamber said it stands prepared to participate meaningfully in any legitimate public consultation conducted by the PUC in the national interest.