Protesters Push Back Hard Against BTL Merger

Civil disorder may have dominated today’s headlines, but that’s not how this morning’s protest began. For nearly two hours, demonstrators quietly lined Saint Thomas Street, peacefully picketing the proposed BTL–Speednet merger. Union executives stood shoulder to shoulder with UDP supporters, an unusual mix, all united in saying they simply don’t support the deal. Tonight, News Five’s Paul Lopez takes us inside that early, calmer phase of the demonstration, and the reasons protesters say this merger should not move forward.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Demonstrators started trickling in outside the BTL Headquarters just after eight this morning… and by nine o’clock, St. Thomas Street was packed. Protesters stood shoulder to shoulder, hoisting picket signs, blasting bullhorns, and uniting around one message: “No to the BTL acquisition.” The crowd swelled after both the United Democratic Party and the NTUCB put out late‑night calls for their supporters to show up, this after word spread that BTL’s board would be meeting today to make a decision. NTUCB President Ella Waight says they weren’t about to watch this unfold quietly from the sidelines.

 

Ella Waight, President, NTUCB

“For us here as union representatives, we are on this side and we are just keeping status of what is happening in their as well. We know what is happening. So we are just waiting. We are very respectful people. We are holding the peace. But we hope we can continue holding the peace. As long as they do the right thing and don’t do anything today, it will remain like that.”

 

 

 

The Christian Workers Union, the Public Service Union, and the Belize Energy Workers Union were represented at today’s protest. And their leaders stood firm on a “no” position.

 

Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Workers Union

“There is too much at stake here for Belizeans to just sit back and watch it go through. We have had this before in the past with this same administration. I was upfront and foremost with INTELCO.”

 

 

 

 

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“We need to understand that we are not a country of sheep and this sheepish lifestyle and behavior that we have exhibited over the last twenty to thirty years needs to be done away with.”

 

 

 

Rossanie Novelo, President, Belize Energy Workers Union

“We are saying no to the merger and accusation of Smart by BTL. The way how it has been happening is so fast, why rush?”

 

 

 

 

Police officers formed a tight perimeter around the compound, a clear show of force meant to keep things calm; though, as we’d later see, that effort didn’t quite hold. Inside the building, the meeting that protesters believed would happen had been cancelled the night before. It was business as usual for employees, many of whom watched from behind the glass, uneasy about what might unfold. Outside, however, UDP’s Brian “Yellow” Man was already rallying the crowd, hinting that protesters were prepared to push past the gate.

 

 

 

Brian “Yellow Man” Audinett, UDP Member

“And I am telling you. I guarantee you. We will enter the compound at ten o’clock.”

 

 

 

 

Wave Morning Show host Alfonso Noble also made an appearance, dressed in a full bacon costume, taking a jab at BTL Chairman Markhelm Lizarraga, who also owns a meat shop.

 

Aflonso Noble, UDP Member

“I put on this suit yah fuh drive a point home. They are taking public money to buy a private company and there is absolutely no justification whatsoever.”

 

 

 

 

Union and party leaders told us that despite holding consultations, BTL has still not provided enough information to ease their concerns or convince them to support the acquisition. And then there are those former BTL employees demanding their severance payouts from the company in the face of a multi-million-dollar deal.

 

 

 

Emily Turner, Past President, Belize Communication Workers Union

“Remember they started at wanting to acquire three or four companies for a hundred and eighty million. So a hundred million has dropped out. So we don’t think should be any delay in BTL having the money to cover this severance.”

 

 

 

 

And with so many voices openly rejecting the proposed buyout, the big question now is whether BTL will still push ahead with the deal. At this point, that remains unclear. But what we do know is that the debate over Belize’s telecom future is nowhere near settled. In fact, this conversation is just getting started. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.