Smart Staff Face Uncertainty Amid BTL Takeover Plans

Employees at Smart are grappling with growing uncertainty as Belize Telemedia Limited moves forward with plans to acquire the company. A well-placed source inside Smart described the atmosphere as tense, saying, quote, there is this ambiance of uncertainty. Not of our day-to-day responsibilities but on how to plan the way forward, end quote. The source noted that several ongoing projects aimed at long-term goals have stalled due to uncertainty surrounding the proposed acquisition. The company’s CEO reportedly acknowledged in a recent meeting that he only became aware of the potential deal in late December. He acknowledged that job losses are “a possibility but not a certainty”.  News Five has learned that a suggestion was made to employees that many of them could be offered new roles during the transition period. However, employees were reportedly cautioned that benefits such as pensions and bonuses would be halted immediately once the acquisition takes effect, until the details are ironed out. Employees were also advised that they could use vacation days now as a reassurance measure. But questions remain about contract renewals and long-term stability. The CEO also assured staff that those made redundant would receive some financial support upon termination. “We’ve been told to remain optimistic,” the source added, “but until there’s clarity, it’s hard to plan for the future.”