N.T.U.C.B Advocates for Local Internet Providers Over Starlink  

Last Wednesday, we delved into the potential impact of Starlink, the U.S.-based satellite internet company owned by tech mogul Elon Musk. As we reported, Starlink has applied for a license to provide internet services here in Belize. The final decision rests with the Public Utilities Commission, which has already received ten letters of objection. The National Trade Union Congress of Belize has also voiced its concerns to the commission and raised the issue with the prime minister on Friday. Today, N.T.U.C.B. President Luke Martinez emphasized that we can’t let this company enter Belize and cut into B.T.L.’s market share.

 

Luke Martinez, President, N.T.U.C.B

“We have submitted via a letter to the P.U.C and we had asked several questions and recommendations. So, while we agree with you and the public that there are these questions that have been going around in terms of how do we reach out to everybody, if we reach out to the technical people from B.E.L, they will tell you that those in the telecommunication sector will tell you that at least ninety-five percent of our population has access to internet service. With the saying of leaving no one behind there is questions about the remaining five percent. So, we made a recommendation saying look if it is something we can’t prevent in the interest of the other five percent and leaving no one behind, we recommended for a reseller option to be proposed. We also discussed with the prime minister that when it comes to our police ands nation defense we have to ensure we protect our integrity, our sovereignty and ensure that we keep our defense as intact as we possibly can. We did mention to the P.M. that would be a concern. We have to understand that B.T.L is our national telecommunication body and Social Security invest over thirty percent in B.T.L, so we cant allow B.T.L to fail.”