A New B.T.L. Board of Directors, but Net Vasquez Still Has to Pay

Net Vasquez

There is a new Board of Directors at Belize Telemedia Limited headed by former Business Senator Mark Lizarraga as chairman.  The recently constituted executive includes six directors, as well as a corporate secretary.  They are Marconi Leal Junior, Jermie Usher, Jose Urbina, Denise Courtenay, Michael Bowen and Eric Eusey.  B.T.L.’s corporate secretary is Melissa Balderamos-Mahler.  A new group of decision makers is in place, however, the telecoms company is still mired in the Net Vasquez fiasco, an unfortunate debacle which carries over from the previous administration.  Vasquez, in his capacity as B.T.L. chairman, racked up a bill of almost a million dollars in personal expenses that were charged to the company’s corporate credit card.  When it came time to repay the outstanding debt owed to B.T.L., Vasquez’s television station, Tropical Vision Limited, which is the parent company of Channel Seven, entered into an advertising agreement with B.T.L. for a period of twenty-six months.  That contract was valued at three hundred and thirty-six thousand, three hundred and seventy-five dollars.  While it has since been rescinded, every effort is being made to collect on the monies owed by the disgraced former chairman.  Earlier today, incoming chairman Mark Lizarraga spoke with the media and touched on the controversial issue.

Mark Lizarraga

Mark Lizarraga, Chairman, B.T.L.

“I’m aware of the matter.  It is a matter that’s in the hands of the attorneys.  I understand that we have a commitment that the monies will be repaid and it’s just the transaction details that are being requested for verification from us, I guess, and we’re sending over all the bank statements, etc… which we have records for.  But I understand that a commitment has been made to repay. I wouldn’t want to say more on that at this time because it could be a legal issue before us.  This new board will pursue every avenue it has at its disposal to recover any monies that were not properly appropriated on B.T.L.’s behalf.  I certainly hear the cry of the people and I think that this is a process that’s going to take its course.  I wish I could tell you more about it, the meetings that I’ve had that this matter has come up, to be honest with you, primarily focused on recovery.  At some stage I guess we’re going to have to get guidance from counsel as to whether there were in fact breach of laws as well.  So I think that’s a different matter.  Right now the primary goal for us is to get recovery and to get recovery as soon as possible.”