BELIZE CITY, Mon. Feb. 14, 2022– Last week, Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño was asked if he believes he must recuse himself as the Minister responsible for the country’s broadcast sector given his personal investments in the cable and internet industry in Belize. It is no secret that the PM is the owner of Centaur Cable, the powerhouse cable network which supplies the north of the country with cable television and internet services. The company – along with Central Television and Internet (CTI) – acquired Southern Cable Vision in December of last year. Centaur, according to reports, is now providing service down south, thus significantly expanding its reach after joining forces with CTI. Prime Minister Briceño, when asked about these moves that seem to have consolidated control of the local market for cable and internet services, said that these advancements are business as usual, and are a part of their strategy to be a financially viable company.

“To be financial viable, you need to have numbers; you have to grow with the number of customers, and that is what we have been doing. Doing that now, it also allows us as a company, Centaur, to be able to provide a better service; that we have the cash flows to be able to invest, because it requires heavy investment. But I think what you forget to point out, and I think deliberately, is that cable is as you know¯you were on the board for many years¯cable as an industry is regulated,” PM Briceño told 7News director Jules Vasquez .

While cable is a regulated industry in Belize with diminished market presence due to the various new online platforms through which Belizeans can access content, a third of all households and hotels are still connected to cable networks—amounting to sizeable profits for cable companies despite the rise of streaming services online. While he did not answer the question posed to him, on whether or not he believes that his roles as both broadcast minister and a major player in the industry have resulted in a conflict of interest, he did note that the Belize Broadcast Authority is the ultimate regulator and decision-making body within Belize’s broadcast industry.

“So it is not that you can tomorrow do as you wish; you have to get approval from the regulator, which is the Boadcasting Authority. Secondly, what influence can I have?” PM Briceño asked.