Belizean unions demand PUC reforms following blocked acquisition

Labor unions in Belize are responding to the Cabinet's decision to block a recent acquisition involving Speednet and Smart. Ella Waight, President of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB), criticized a press release from Speednet, describing its tone as “vindictive, rather than constructive.”

While the NTUCB maintains support for fair market competition, the Belize Communication Workers Union (BCWU) has urged the government to continue its business with BTL, the national telecommunications provider. BCWU General Secretary Harrison August called for transparency and criticized perceived political influence in the sector.

In a related demand, the NTUCB is calling for structural changes to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to ensure regulatory independence. President Waight proposed that four of the seven commissioners be nominated by recognized social partners—including labor, business, NGOs, and churches—to prevent the appearance of “regulatory capture” and political interference from the government.