Love F.M. chief says he?ll enforce contract
The announcement last week that the Government of Belize is ending all contracts with radio stations effective November first has had a sobering effect on some of the media houses that have come to rely on this lucrative arrangement. In the case of one station, the process of adjustment has started with the reduction of staff, while others have kept their reaction closer to the vest. But one owner who is not afraid to speak his mind is Love FM chief Rene Villanueva. And while he is concerned about the announcement, Villanueva points to this four page document, a three year contract between GOB and Love FM in which the radio station provides various services in exchange for the tidy sum of sixteen thousand five hundred dollars monthly. Villanueva says while he feels a bit threatened by last week’s announcement by Executive Assistant in the Prime Minster’s Office, Vaughan Gill, he is banking on the strength of the three-year contract signed in January of last year. Villanueva says while the Government is free to decide how it wants to spend its money, the contract cannot be ended simply by word of mouth and without following procedures set out in black and white.
Rene Villanueva, Director, RSV Limited
?As far as I am concerned we have a valid contract with the Government of Belize. The contract is signed by the financial secretary. And I know as far as we are concerned that until we receive something in writing from the Government of Belize telling us rightly so that they intend to terminate the contract, giving us the adequate and the two months notice that is called for in it, then we will act accordingly. So as far as we are concerned the contract is till running. I have not received any notice in writing.?
?My impression is that at the time when they did that, they were not aware that this valid contract existed. So I?m going to give them the benefit of the doubt and wait and see what is the next move of the Government will make with regards to this contract.?
?I?m looking to settle this thing amicably. If the Government wants to change the terms of the agreement, then it?s free to suggest that. Because if I would like to change the terms of the agreement, I think, I should be free to suggest it to them as well. So if they want to change the terms of the agreement, well fine, we can talk about it and reach an amicable solution. And I am open to that. If they want to bill differently, or whatever they want to do, it?s up to them.?
?The sixteen thousand five hundred dollars for us, is–let?s put it this way–it?s steady. It?s a steady income. We can depend on it. We can go to the bank and say lend me some money, I have this steady revenue stream coming in from the Government, I can take this contract. In fact, I have taken this contract to my bankers and therefore they are aware of it, and they might shake a bit more when they find out what has happened, and you make loans based on the fact that you have this revenue stream coming in. And most business people are aware of that. And what do we do with these loans; we improve on these same services that we are offering back to the people of Belize.?
Villanueva says that he expects a check from GOB on November Tenth and if the money is not forthcoming, then he will make a call to Belmopan to investigate and is prepared to invoke, if necessary, the clauses in the contract concerning breaches by either party.
