Belize Can President on nationalization
Patrick Menzies
Not much has been publicized about the movement called Belize Can. Its president Patrick Menzies has been very active during the 2011 unrest which was incited by bus owners who felt that restructured road service permits would have crippled their businesses. During the COLA press conference this morning at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza, Menzies gave his organization’s view on nationalization of utilities.
Patrick Menzies, President of Belize Can
“Are we going to Be an Ecuador, an Argentina; or are the Actions of this PM more reflective of that of Guyana’s past President: Linden Forbes Burnham? Guyana then – as Belize now? I quote: “Many people in Caribbean countries, particularly those with left-leaning political sympathies, called for government control of the economies. The government moved vigorously to take control of the economy. That’s in Guyana. In 1970, Burnham proclaimed Guyana as the world’s first “cooperative republic.” Are we the second? He said that the country would continue to welcome foreign investors but that the government would own at least fifty-one percent of any enterprise operating in Guyana. Of course the original plan to only own fifty-one percent; later on that changed. He wanted majority control of the companies, but wanted to maintain foreign management teams and the flow of foreign investment. What ended up happening though was completely different. The companies balked at the idea of shared ownership, and Burnham government took complete control of the economy, eliminating both foreign ownership and foreign management.”Like Burnham, PM Dean Barrow has also nationalized our greatest moneymakers in the country, with a promise that we will own fifty-one percent of these companies. But even went a step further than Burnham and enshrined it into our constitution. Folks, like Burnham, we are back to the same spot where they were in Guyana. Are we headed therefore to the dire straits that Guyana found itself in? After litigation is over, the litigating Barrow Attorneys will be of course multi-millionaires. Upgrades to B.T.L. when those are accomplished; that’s more debt. The cost of communication worldwide is quickly approaching zero dollars. B.T.L. will continue to cost the taxpayers as it continues to stifle growth in our nation.”
Menzies has also come out strongly against the recent mass naturalization of immigrants to pad the voters list for upcoming elections.
FYI if you nooticed that Argentina is way better of economically since they nationalized there utilities.
Mr. Menzies has no idea what he is talking about in reference to Guyana it would appear that his talking point came from the PPP. I do not agree GOB taking BTL. But unbridle capitalism is worst. Why were we paying the highest cell rates In the Caribbean and central America and had the lowest quality service look its 2012 and Belize is just getting blackberry service. The free markets only work when their free and in Belize we know the telecom market was not free.
it is still not free
I like when Mr. Menzies talk because as my grandfather use to tell me:
“It is better to shut your mouth and be thought of as a fool…..
….. than opening your mouth and proving it”
Oh but now Guyana out of all places God forbid if Belize would ever become like that slum they need to ship back all those Guyanese that have been brought to Belize in the legal community needs to be shipped back
why compete with Argentina, Ecuador or Guyana?
Push aside Haiti or Zimbabwe, this is the international award you want to take.
You definitely don’t want to be like Belgium or Singapore, much smaller countries.
This would put corruption officers and gangs out of business; People would stop living in fear and live better lives. Pass amendment to promote corruption, we need it now.
these dudes are a bunch of average joes who want to appear more average than the rest of us average joes. And if these guys are so brilliant at spotting the problems of our country why do’t they put their names on the ballot paper every time there is an election? After all it is politicians who like to tell us what is wrong with our country and what needs to be done. Deh bally mek I just yaaaaaaaawwwwwwnnnnnn!
Belize has never had a truely capitalist economy. Instead it has had a series of corporatist/crony capitalist goverments which has resulted in stagnation, corruption and nepotism. Whether BTL is government owned or privately owned makes no difference so long as the government protects it from competition. Look to the corrupt, corporatist politicians to blame the current state of the Belizean economy not capitalism. So long as the government attempts to “regulate” the economy we will be cursed with corruption, lack of competition and sweet heart deals for their friends and relatives.
duh heheheheheh lol