Barrow comments on Intelco contract; Ashcroft

Needless to say, the ongoing saga between Government and B.T.L. also got its time on the floor. Leader of the Opposition Dean Barrow got his piece in today, voicing concerns about the telecommunications contract between G.O.B. and Intelco. Barrow also addressed the latest political rumours that the United Democratic Party may be courting B.T.L.’s chairman, Michael Ashcroft.

Dean Barrow

“We feel that this is nothing more than a sweetheart deal for Mr. Glenn Godfrey and ruling party interests, that the current anti-B.T.L. climate is being exploited in order to pass this off as the beginning of competition, when in fact it is a second monopoly. Certainly in terms of the fifteen-year exclusive license that it will have to provide services for the Government of Belize, and when in fact it is an arrangement under which those close to the ruling party will benefit. So I expect to have a lot to say about that, it really is scandalous that the public still cannot see the actual contract itself and that the details of all the provisions are being withheld from the public.

I can say quite frankly that in our efforts to win the next elections, we are prepared in fact to accept support from any quarter. So long as that support is not illegal, so long as it has nothing to do with drug money, so long as the person or persons offering that support understands that in return for that support, what they can expect from the United Democratic Party is good governance and a return to the kind of enabling environment in which they can do legitimate business successfully.”

News 5 understands that the details of the contract between the Government and Intelco is not being released to the general public based on a confidentiality clause signed by the two parties.