The Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) has condemned Tuesday’s storming of its board meeting by several persons, including opposition and trade union officials, who thought that the meeting was discussing the company’s planned take over of Speednet – SMART.
‘BTL respects the right to peaceful and lawful protest. Unfortunately, some of those protestors unlawfully trespassed on BTL’s property and resisted the police’s lawful attempts to eject those trespassers, peacefully. The encouragement to protest was also intended to prevent BTL’s Board of Directors from meeting on January 27, 2026, to discuss BTL business and other matters,’ the company said in a statement on Tuesday night. BTL says it is offering BDZ$80 million (One Belize dollar=US$0.49 cents) with BDZ$10 million being paid in cash and the balance being paid in the form of loan notes which are for a four year term and carry interest at a rate of 4.5 per cent per annum.
Speednet, is a Belizean communications company, established in 2003 and providing mostly deals with cellular services under the brand name ‘SMART’ and other landline services.
But the movve to acquire the company has not found favour with the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), independent legislators and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) among others.
On Tuesday, despite a heavy police presence, the protestors stormed the meeting, insisting that the government ensure that the planned takeover of Speednet – SMART is done in a transparent way.
‘We have to make sure we do not make our right a wrong. I repeat, we cannot make our right a wrong. We are here to demonstrate. We are here to send a message to the government, to the board of BTL members, we do not want this deal to happen. We want more transparency. We want more information so that we can make an educated decision. Everyone can make an educated decision. If it is such a good deal, open the books,’ said opposition legislator, Lee Mark Chang.
The Christian Workers Union, the Public Service Union, and the Belize Energy Workers Union were among those present indicating that while they support growth in technology and investment, this should not be at the expense of transparency with the BCCI earlier indicating that the acquisition represents ‘a matter of profound national significance’.
‘There is too much at stake here for Belizeans to just sit back and watch it go through. We have had this before in the past with this same administration,’ said Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Workers Union, while Rossanie Novelo, the President of Belize Energy Workers Union, said ‘we are saying no to the merger and accusation of Smart by BTL. The way how it has been happening is so fast, why rush?’
President of the Public Service Union, Dean Flowers, said ‘we need to understand that we are not a country of sheep and this sheepish lifestyle and behavior that we have exhibited over the last twenty to thirty years needs to be done away with.’
In its statement, BTL said it condemned the ‘unlawful occupation of BTL’s premises by trespassers who have sought to disrupt BTL’s legitimate business operations,’ adding ‘these actions constitute a clear violation of BTL’s property rights and created an unsafe environment for BTL’s employees, visitors, customers and the trespassers themselves’.
BTL said that despite attempts at intimidation, its board of directors was meeting to discuss human resources related issues including a ruling by the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling of November 5, 2025, ‘which will have a positive impact on our former and present employees.
‘The attempt to disrupt is both regrettable and counterproductive,’ BTL said, adding that the board had recognised that ‘yielding to intimidation would constitute a breach of their duties to exercise independent judgment and would be contrary to the interests of BTL and BTL’s shareholders’.
The company also warned that it will not tolerate unlawful trespassing or intimidation and that it is working closely with relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of its staff and operations.
The statement concluded by stating that BTL is an essential service provider and that any threat to its operations poses a broader risk to national and economic security.