Media Leaders Meet Social Partners Over BTL-Smart Acquisition

The leaders of four major media organizations met with representatives of the social partners this afternoon as concerns continue over Belize Telemedia Limited’s proposed acquisition of Speednet Communications Limited, the parent company of Smart.  The meeting was held at the Scout Association’s conference room in Belize City and included Louis Wade Junior of Plus TV, Jules Vasquez of Channel Seven, Mose Hyde of KREM Radio, and René Villanueva Junior of Love FM and Love Television.  The media directors were called to the table by the social partners, who are seeking to strengthen the public campaign against the proposed acquisition. For approximately one hour, the four men listened to the positions and concerns presented by the participating organizations.  Plus TV, Channel Seven and Krem have declared their position against the acquisition and provided the rationale behind the stance.  

Louis Wade, Plus TV: “And I believe that with the switching of technology, there was a time when the powers that be would have to either turn off your transmitter or revoke your license. But the way things work now with IP addresses, etc., they could damage the media output without us even knowing. The world has changed. It doesn’t make sense that our constitution gives us freedom of conscience but constantly we are fighting for freedom of expression and freedom of speech. These things go together. It’s like you could think it but you can’t talk it. I think we in the media represent various perspectives and we really should have that right to continue to have these individual perspectives. Whether we agree or disagree the open marketplace of ideas must continue in Belize if we are to have a democracy that works.”

Jules Vasquez, 7 News: “I think that any state-controlled monopoly poses a danger to free media. Any fettering of the free media poses a danger to a democracy’s functioning. And once that happens all hell can break loose. So that’s our position.”

Mose Hyde, Krem: “I think we have lived the experience of seeing where absolute power in control of a monopoly. Because to say monopoly is not the complete facts you know ? It’s a monopoly in the hands of absolute power where the government has the control and we experienced certain punitive measures because of positions we have taken you’re vulnerable, especially now more so than ever the importance of the technology to the kind of work we do and how we reach our audiences, how content is distributed. The only aspect of it is the leading aspect of it, it is unacceptable.”

While the meeting explored the possibility of establishing a unified position, it remains unclear whether the four media organizations have formally agreed to a joint course of action.