Communication Workers Group Joins Opposition to BTL-SMART Deal

The Belize Communication Workers for Justice (BCWJ) added its voice to the movement against the now moot proposed acquisition.  The group’s position was articulated by its spokesperson, Emily Turner, who gave an extensive interview outlining BCWJ’s concerns over the proposed transaction and the broader implications it believed the acquisition could have for Belizeans. Turner laid out the essence of BCWJ’s position, explaining why the organisation felt compelled to publicly join the movement and outlining the concerns it believed needed to be addressed before any such acquisition could proceed.

Emily Turner, BCWJ Spokesperson: “We believe that BTL has not provided us enough evidence for us to be able to make a song decision on this acquisition and from we came out in January nothing really has substantially changed. It is the same  information they have shared and they haven’t shared with the Belizean public, the social partners any further information and and that’s the reason why we have decided to also come out and show our solidarity with the social partners on this matter. It is an issue at the heart of what we represent. We represent, we believe that at the heart of this issue is accountability and we have had our challenges with BTL when it comes to accountability and BTL is asking us to take their word for it and that is something that we have had a struggle with doing our experiences with the BCWJ members have been real and it is hard for us to say that we can take BTL’s word on what they will do and what they say is happening or what they have seen without us getting that information and making an assessment on it. And as a Belizean that is part of the ownership of this company we all believe that we deserve the answers, we deserve the evidence on this acquisition.”

Turner’s comments were made before Cabinet announced shortly after four o’clock this evening that, following its deliberations, it does not support the proposed acquisition of SMART/Speednet by Belize Telemedia Limited.