Chaos Erupts at BTL as Protestors Storm Compound Over Speednet Buyout

Tensions ran high outside the BTL Headquarters this morning as reports spread that the company’s board was preparing to green‑light an eighty‑million‑dollar buyout of Speednet. What began as a calm demonstration by UDP supporters and members of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize quickly spiraled into chaos. A surge of UDP supporters pushed past the front gate, crashed through police barricades, and stormed toward the BTL building. While NTUCB members held their position behind the main crowd, the front line erupted, officers firing pepper spray in a desperate attempt to stop the advance. Tonight, we’ll hear from every group that took part in the protest. But first, we take you right into the thick of the unrest, the moment everything tipped into disorder. News Five’s Paul Lopez begins our coverage.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Chaos broke out this morning at the Belize Telemedia Limited Headquarters, right here in Belize City, when a group of UDP protestors pushed their way past the front gate and bulldozed through a police barricade to get inside the building. What happened next sent the entire compound into turmoil.

 

Even with their best efforts, police simply couldn’t hold the line as protestors, led by Brian ‘Yellow Man’ Audinett, shoved their way towards the building. It reached a boiling point near the entrance of the building where police officers used pepper spray to ward off protestors.

 

 

 

 

 

Mesopotamia Area Rep. Lee Mark Chang stood in between protestors and the police. He urged his party supporters to keep things calm and orderly, but the crowd continued pushing forward.

 

 

 

 

Unfazed by the police’s pepper spray, Audinett kept moving forward, with Chang at the center of it all trying to restore order.

 

After about ten tense minutes of shoving, shouting, and a full standoff between protestors and police, UDP Leader Tracy Panton finally stepped in. She moved to the front of the crowd and called her supporters back, saying the party had made its point and their mission was accomplished.

 

 

 

 

Tracy Panton, Leader, United Democratic Party

“We did what we came here to do. No decisions will be taken to today. Come, because we need to get ready for round two. You will know.”

 

 

 

 

 

Brian Yellowman Audinett, Member, United Democratic Party

“We will create havoc in the country.”

 

As many already know, today’s protest was fueled by the proposed eighty‑million‑dollar takeover of Speednet by BTL, a company largely owned by the Belizean public. Reports indicate that BTL’s board was scheduled to meet today to give provisional approval for the merger between the two telecom companies.

 

Tracy Panton

“The meeting was postponed from last night but we had to let them know that we are serious when we say no to corruption. This Briceno administration will go down as the most corrupt.”

 

 

 

 

Paul Lopez

“What happens if charges are levied against your supporters?”

 

Tracy Panton

“We got their back, we got their back.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.