The Reporter

Opposition Leader Hon. Tracy Panton on Tuesday condemned the Government’s handling of the proposed BTL transaction, arguing it risks restoring telecom consolidation under secrecy while positioning the state as buyer, regulator, and beneficiary without public disclosure. Panton, speaking at a United Democratic Party press conference, framed the proposed BTL transaction—widely discussed as involving SMART/Speednet—as a governance issue, not simply a commercial matter. She argued that any major...

Belize has been included in a list of 75 countries for which the United States will indefinitely suspend immigrant visa processing, a measure set to take effect on January 21 as part of the Trump administration’s expanded immigration crackdown. According to U.S. reporting and the U.S. State Department’s public explanation, the suspension applies to immigrant visas—such as those used for employment-based immigration or for joining family members permanently in the United States. It does not...

The proposed sale of Speednet Communications Limited to Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) is raising renewed concern about how large sums of money linked to Lord Ashcroft–related entities may ultimately be handled. In a press release dated January 12, 2026, the Office of Lord Ashcroft confirmed that Speednet is 77.5 percent owned by the Waterloo Group Charitable Trust, with the remaining shares held by Jaime Briceño and Renan Briceño. The Trust says it was created for charitable purposes to...