PM says G.O.B. “propping up” B.T.L.

John Briceño

PM Briceño says the Government of Belize is still giving millions of dollars in business to B.T.L. and that the switch to Smart of some government phone plans should be a “wake-up” call.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“As it is right, now the government is propping up B.T.L. to the tune of millions of dollars. Just because of government, B.T.L. clearly would have gone bankrupt. And, the amount of money we have paid for B.T.L., which is almost six hundred million dollars, not counting interest, B.T.L. will never be able to pay that back. How much did they earn last year? One point three million dollars. You think they wah pay six hundred  million dollars and not count interest? As it is, B.T.L. owes the Government millions of dollars in taxes, millions of dollars in dividends, we have been propping up this company. This company also has to become more efficient and effective and driven by customer service. Not because they are owed by the government they can just go and charge anything they want. The private sector is going to leave them to. Maybe it is a wakeup call B.T.L. to B.T.L. that they have to fix up their service, that they have to do better. They just can’t sit on their laurels and continue to fleece the government, because you and I, all of us, are paying for that.”

We reached out to Chairman of B.T.L. Mark Lizarraga who declined to comment, telling us that he is out of office on leave and will be back next week.