Citizens again protest new B.T.L. rates
With the Public Utilities Commission languishing in legal limbo, it was left for irate citizens to once again put pressure on BTL to rescind the new rate structure imposed by the monopoly on December first. The protest took the form of another march and rally led by CAPU, the Committee for Action on Public Utilities. News 5’s Ann-Marie Williams was out with the crowd in Belize City.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
They were small in numbers, but their voices were strong. Strong against what they called, the “injustices of higher telephone rates.” The peaceful demonstration against B.T.L.’s telephone monopoly started mid morning from the Constitution Park in Belize City and made its way to the Battlefield Park, but not before pausing in front of B.T.L.
When the bells tolled on Church Street this morning, it was to announce the funeral services for B.T.L. Three hundred strong came out to bury the monopoly.
Margaret Ventura, President, P.S.U.
“The coffin signals the death of B.T.L., that is what it symbolises. And the people of Belize who are not prepared to continue paying high bills is signalling the death of B.T.L.”
Publics Service Union President Margaret Ventura says the monopoly’s death will not happen overnight and it is for this reason that the union is prepared to keep the issue on the front burner.
Margaret Ventura
“What we are doing, is keeping the B.T.L. issue in the public eye. We are mobilising the consumers who pay the bills to B.T.L. monthly, to say enough is enough, and also amassing complaints from the public through our movement. We are also gathering signatures from business houses as part of this movement, and we’re basically building a momentum that the P.U.C. should have done.”
And since the P.U.C. did nothing, Ventura says the Ad Hoc Committee, CAPU, is mobilising the people; like Rodney Zuniga, a farmer from George Town in the Stann Creek District who drove for four hours to be here.
Rodney Zuniga, George Town, Stann Creek
“I am our here representing George Town, because the prices are far too expensive than we can afford. And we in the south, when it comes to income is very low. And B.T.L. is pressuring us because if a call comes to our home, we have to pay fifty cents just for the person to go and call us.”
Rosalie Staines, Belize City
“We have to take charge of our lives, and take the power back, that monopolies have had over the years. So I’m here to join in.”
Deborah Wilson, Belmopan
“Today I’m supporting the P.S.U. in basically saying to B.T.L. that we can’t afford it and they’ve got to do something to help us because we’re helping them.”
Fr. Oliver Small, Ladyville
“I’m out here because of the increase in the telephone rates. The people in Ladyville, and the mission, cannot afford the increases in rates. And even myself, when I called Ladyville I could talk for fifteen minutes and pay fifteen cents, now if I talk fifteen minutes or thirty minutes, I must pay three dollars.”
Ann Martinez, San Ignacio
“I am in support of my teacher’s union and as a consumer, for B.T.L., I am disappointed with the hike in the prices, so I am here to show my disapproval.”
Remjio Montejo, Area Rep, Collet
“I am citizen Montejo, supporting the crowd, as simple as that.”
But things weren’t as simple as they seemed. The protestors decided to circle the park and stage a peaceful protest in front of the Belize Bank, which houses the offices of the Carlisle Group, B.T.L.’s majority owner.
Margaret Ventura
“I want to say quite frankly, that if on average you bill is fifty to a hundred dollars per month, and you are disconnected in January for non-payment of bills, then all B.T.L. will make from you, if and when you reconnect, is the twenty-seven dollars reconnection fee, so it’s their loss.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Are you gonna lead the charge to ask people not to pay their bills on the thirty-first of January?”
Margaret Ventura
“Certainly. Once people decide that they don’t want to pay, and we have been saying boycott in every way and fashion. And so if you don’t want to use the telephone, you don’t use it. And if you want to disconnect the damn thing, then do so.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“But are you gonna say to people, let us not pay our bills on the thirty-first of January and let us see who will be disconnected. Are you willing to say that and do that?”
Margaret Ventura
“Well, CAPU is standing firmly behind people, and if people want to do that, we’re saying don’t pay the bills come January. That is when the reality will hit people. I think up until this point in time, people are thinking that I could still use the telephone. When they receive their bill come January, that is going to be the wakeup call.”
Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
Meanwhile, the Public Utilities Commission will be back in the Supreme Court on Thursday. Attorney for B.T.L., Lois Young Barrow, will request an injunction against the P.U.C. based on what they have deemed several procedural irregularities committed by the P.U.C. However, legal counsel for the P.U.C., Derek Courtenay, tells News 5 that the commission will argue before Judge Awich that under the statute, it is within the powers of the P.U.C. to hold public hearings about the phone company’s new rates. Viewers will recall that the P.U.C. was slated to hold hearings exactly one week ago today, but after the telecommunications company took them to court, undertook not to hold any hearings until a judicial review had been completed. Both sides are optimistic about a courtroom victory.
