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The Belize Times
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Hypocrites of the Week The Belize Telemedia Affair Earlier this week the Prime Minister expressed in no uncertain terms his feelings about the ongoing saga between Belize Telemedia and its former owners. In his statements, both on KREM and during his interview with Jules Vasquez, Mr. Barrow made it clear that his fight is with Lord Ashcroft. In addition he has made it clear that this fight will be a long and drawn out one. In August when Mr. Barrow tabled legislation in the house, legislation which went through the fastest track ever in Belizean history – three readings in one day, then on to the Senate and to the Governor General for his signature in record time, he said that in nationalizing Belize Telemedia, he would, among other benefits, “bring to an end all the litigation.” The Prime Minister has since admitted that as a result of this action there will be more litigation and these court cases will come with a cost to the Belizean taxpayer. He told Jules Vasquez of Channel 7 news: “Ashcroft obviously has all the money in the world, he knows that there is a financial cost to us when he starts this litigation process under the treaty, we will simply have to confront it and deal with it.” On KREM’s morning show the Prime Minister also agreed with his host that this is a fight that he intends to win. For the Belizeans taxpayer, any other scenario would be nothing short of disastrous. In the case of the Nationalization of Belize Telemedia, the Prime Minster has indicated that the value of the company is somewhere around BZ$300 million. While the value of this company will have to be valued through an independent tribunal, if this figure is correct then the government will be required to pay interest. From August to December, the Belizean Taxpayer now owes an additional $15.6 million. With respect to the $45 million dollar Belize Telemedia debt, if the Government should lose that fight, and must pay, then the interest if calculated at 9 percent would amount to around $12,000 daily. So the cost to the Belizean taxpayer, should the Prime Minister not win, will be astronomical. With the government takeover of Belize Telemedia one would expect to see government do all possible to open up communications in Belize. From robust competition, which should result in lower telephone rates, to the opening up of the ARCOS system so that other competitors can get access, Belizeans are expecting a new era in telecommunications in Belize. This could result in a real broadening of Call Centres, an industry with great potential, which today is not effective due to the prohibitive cost of international calls. During the debate in the House the Prime Minster promised to open up access to ARCOS, which currently is under the control and located on the campus of Belize Telemedia. And then there is the voice over the internet protocol (VOIP), which Belizeans have been asking for. For those who are into modern day technology, VOIP can allow the use of SKYPE, VONAGE and other cheap systems to make international calls the world over for a few cents. Unfortunately the Minister said on KREM that BTL, while under government’s control, will not allow the use of VOIP For everyone, the future of Belize Telemedia is critical to Belizean development. For the Prime Minster to record a win in this battle it has to result in all the Belizean people benefitting from this nationalization. Belizeans however will not consider it a win if management contracts for Telemedia were to be issued to a few friends, for a purported $4.8 million, a few hundred thousand dollars below what was being paid out by the previous ownership. Likewise, Belizeans will not consider it a win if the Prime Minister’s former wife and daughter continue to rack up legal fees to defend all these cases and his son continues to be paid exorbitant stipends and allowances. Perhaps in the interest of the country these individuals should agree to provide their talents and services pro bono. In the end, this issue will surely play a major role in the legacy of Dean Barrow and this UDP administration. In the meantime, what worries all of us is the effect all of this is having on investor confidence in Belize, especially in light of the recession, which the Prime Minister announced in October.
This has been a banner week for hypocrites within the UDP camp, and quite frankly the selection panel was stumped and unable to come up with just one UDP rogue to fit the bill in this issue. Actually, the panel came up with five names - that’s right, five worthy recipients cited for unparalleled duplicity and double-speak. This week, the Belize Times is proud to feature Dr. Manuel Esquivel, CEO in the Prime Minister’s Office Audrey Wallace, First wife second lady Lois Young, first son and princeling Anwar Barrow and of course, Net Vasquez. Of these five we could say many things, few of them good, but for the purposes of this column let’s take a look at their hypocrisy. From the very beginning, the Belize Times has called the acquisition of BTL nothing but a state sanctioned and state implemented hijacking. The Prime Minister, who actually has earned the honorary title of hypocrite in perpetuity, rode high on antiAshcroft sentiment, nationalistic visions and golden promises when he hijacked BTL. Three months later anti-Ashcroft sentiment is waning; the nationalistic vision has been sidetracked since Barrow announced that he intends to reprivatize BTL and that was the plan all along; and the golden promises have never materialized – not one of them. Barrow promised an end to litigation – instead, BTL/GOB is tied up in seemingly endless litigation. Barrow promised to make BTL more efficient – instead
the company is hemorrhaging cash in great streams. And now to our five hypocrites! Each one of these hypocrites has perpetuated the great lie conceived by their Prime Minister. Each of these individuals has appeared in front of Belizeans and has done them a disservice. While spouting political-speak about Ashcroft fleecing the company, these individuals have made sure that their own beds are well padded. Lois sits on the Board of BTL and states that the company is in dire straits, yet she is making millions off BTL/ GOB. Anwar is making beaucoup bucks as not only a director on the Board of BTL but also a ‘business consultant.’ Net Vasquez has made sure to pad his own personal nest using BTL resources (let’s talk about NCN and the ARCOS, Net). And of course, Manuel Esquivel and Audrey Wallace must never be forgiven because they are an integral part of the disaster about to befall BTL. Both of them face the nation with cherubic expressions on their faces (actually neither of them quite manage the cherubic look) while listening to the absolute nonsense and lies being spouted by Lois, Anwar and Net. At the end of the day, it is these five individuals along with their Prime Minister who will have to answer for the destruction of BTL due to incompetence, pettiness, fleecing (by the UDP), and mismanagement. They truly are the hypocrites of the week.
THE BELIZE TIMES EDITOR
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