Bzeans speak out on BTL’s new rates
On the eve of D-day, when BTL’s new rate structure will begin to take effect, the public is still sending out mixed signals. On one hand, some organisations are calling for a boycott of the company’s services, but on the other, there are still some people who have decided to simply cut back and pay their bills without a fuss. Today, News 5’s Ann-Marie Williams took a walk to find out the talk on the streets of Belize City.
Citizen #1
“I think this thing ridiculous, I don’t like it at all, at all. All they people who di get low income, wah definitely can’t pay deh bills deh.”
Citizen #2
“We just got to live with it, or else they cut out the phone.”
Citizen #3
“Until a next company come in then. But for right now we just have to ride with the programme.”
Citizen #4
“I’m just going to boycott it. I think if everybody else decide that they’re not going to use their phones, maybe they’ll do something about it.”
Citizen #5
“I know that my Belizeans, the main things they say they can’t afford, but when they want something bad enough, they go and afford it, even if it’s not important enough to them. I know this for a fact, because I’ve been around my country and I know my people. I’m surprised to see so many Belizeans affording cellular, that I think twice before I even got one.”
Citizen #6
“Well I think they just di chance the people of Belize. We have to see about this. That’s how they’ll forever chance us if the government doesn’t step in.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Are you willing to do something about it?”
Citizen #6
“Yes, I am willing to stand a strike if there will be a strike, that we could strike against BTL and their high rates.”
Citizen #7
“I think it’s ridiculous. I think BTL being a monopoly, I understand that they make fifty cents off each dollar. They should be able to give back something to the people. Bring down the cellular rates, bring it to thirty-five cents, forty cents at least. Bring down the homes phones to five cents a minute or three cents a minute.”
Citizen #1
“From my point of view, I would advise the whole public, nobody use phone for at least two months, then we’ll see what will happen. Because if nobody use phone, nobody pay no bill.”
