Salary and Employment of B.T.L. C.E.O. ‘Insulting’

By far, C.E.O. of Belize Telemedia Limited Rochus Schreiber’s salary and benefits, amounting to more than seven hundred thousand Belize dollars, is the most paid to anyone in that role in Belize. In fact, even ministerial salaries are beneath that amount.  Opposition Leader John Briceño raised it in the House on the occasion of the International Banking (Amendment) Bill which gives the company power to borrow from international banks. While he was constantly interrupted in the House, he told us today that the points he was making are simple: one, that it is a waste of money; and two, it is a slap in the face to prominent Belizeans who are denied a chance to run the company enshrined in our Constitution as belonging to us forever and ever, amen.

Judith Alpuche

John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader

“Why do we have to bring these foreigners to run this company? We have Belizeans that have the capacity, have the experience, have the ability to be able to run B.T.L. and do a good job, for far less money than seven hundred thousand dollars. And yes, okay, if there is something missing then you bring in a consultant, man. I find it insulting that the flagship company in this country, the company that the Prime Minister has gone all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice for, not once but two times; the same B.T.L. that he was going to pay a hundred million dollars for and ended up paying over five hundred and fifty million dollars; the very same company that the Prime Minister amended the Constitution of Belize to say that it is going to be in the Constitution – I think it’s the only Constitution in the entire world that has a company listed in our Constitution – and saying that we’re going to own this forever and ever and ever, and turn around and give it to foreigners to run? I find it insulting to all of us as Belizeans.”