Sitting of the House of Representatives on Friday, 18th October 2024

Today, Friday, 18th October 2024, Honourable Members gathered in the Chambers of the National Assembly Building in Belmopan for a Sitting of the House of Representatives. The meeting began at 10:33 A.M. with the Belizean National Prayer offered by Mrs. Rubycela Parades.

Following prayers, in her announcement, the Honourable Speaker Woods disclosed the notice of absences received by the Office of the Clerk, encouraged consistent medical tests in recognition of breast cancer awareness month, raised awareness on the effect Supplementary Orders of the Days have on the limited number of staff at the National Assembly, and welcomed representatives from Former Children Parliaments, NCFC, and UNICEF all present in the limited visitor space.

With the consent of the House, the Honourable Speaker Woods proposed to vary the order of the Sitting to allow for the Introduction of Bills to be taken after the Committee of Supply. This proposal was to allow the introduction of the General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2024/2025) Bill, 2024 in accordance with the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives.

From here on, the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Investment, Civil Aviation, and Immigration presented TWO (2) Sessional Papers:

No. HR267A/1/13 – Supplementary Appropriation Schedule for Fiscal Year 2024/2025.
No. HR268/1/13 – Belize Social Investment Fund Audited Statements for the Fiscal Year ending March 31, 2024.

Sessional Paper No. HR267A/1/13 – Supplementary Appropriation Schedule for Fiscal Year 2024/2025, was referred to the Committee of Supply for examination, consideration and report while Sessional Paper No. HR268/1/13 – Belize Social Investment Fund Audited Statements for the Fiscal Year ending March 31, 2024, was ordered to lie on the Table.

Afterwards, the Honourable Chairpersons of the respective Committees presented EIGHT (8) Reports which were ordered to be laid on the Table as follows:

No. HR269/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Customs and Excise Duties (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024.
No. HR270/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Movable Property Security Rights Bill, 2024.
No. HR270A/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Finance Belize (Recognition and Exemption) Bill, 2024.
No. HR271/1/13 – Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee on the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
No. HR272/1/13 – Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee on the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
No. HR273/1/13 – Report from the Health and Human Development Committee on the Global Fund Privileges and Immunities Bill, 2024.
No. HR274/1/13 – Report from the Ombudsman Reports Committee on The Twenty-First Annual Report of the Ombudsman of Belize for the period January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.
No. HR275/1/13 – Report from the Committee of Selection on the Appointment of Members to fill the vacancies in the Standing Committees of the House of Representatives.

Following the presentation of Reports from Select Committees, a total of THIRTEEN (13) Bills were introduced. The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Investment, Civil Aviation and Immigration introduced TEN (10) of the Bills while the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Education, Culture, Science, and Technology; the Honourable Minister of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs; and the Honourable Minister of Health and Wellness all introduced ONE (1) Bill each, as follows:

General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2024/2025) Bill, 2024;
Government of Belize and Social Security Board Settlement Deed Bill, 2024;
Financial Services Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024;
Securities Industry (Amendment) Bill, 2024;
Income and Business Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2024;
Tax Administration and Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2024;
General Sales Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2024;
Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2024;
Business Names (Amendment) Bill, 2024;
Designated Processing Areas (Amendment) Bill, 2024;
National Institute of Culture and History (Amendment) Bill, 2024;
Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2024; and
Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Subsequent to the introduction of Bills, a total of FIVE (5) Motions were introduced between the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Investment, Civil Aviation, and Immigration and the Honourable Chairperson of the Committee of Selection, respectively:

Caribbean Development Bank – Ninth Consolidated Line of Credit for the Development Finance Corporation – Loan and Guarantee Motion, 2024.
Resolution for the Expansion of the Protection of Belize’s Total Ocean Space and the Medium Bio-Diversity Protection Zones Motion, 2024.
Resolution Recommending the Appointment of a Person to Act as Auditor General Motion, 2024.
Adoption of the Report from the Ombudsman Reports Committee on The Twenty-First Annual Report of the Ombudsman of Belize for the period January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.
Motion to adopt the Report from the Committee of Selection, 2024.

The Sitting of the House of Representatives was briefly suspended to allow the relevant Committees to meet and conduct their business. After resuming, the following Reports were presented and ordered to be laid on the Table:

No. HR276/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Caribbean Development Bank – Ninth Consolidated Line of Credit for the Development Finance Corporation – Loan and Guarantee Motion, 2024.
No. HR277/1/13 – Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee on the Resolution Recommending the Appointment of a Person to Act as Auditor-General Motion, 2024.

Today, the House of Representatives passed TWO (2) Motions and SEVEN (7) Bills as follows:

Caribbean Development Bank – Ninth Consolidated Line of Credit for the Development Finance Corporation – Loan and Guarantee Motion, 2024;
Resolution Recommending the Appointment of a Person to Act as Auditor General Motion, 2024;
General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2024/2025) Bill, 2024;
Customs and Excise Duties (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2024;
Movable Property Security Rights Bill, 2024;
Finance Belize (Recognition and Exemption) Bill, 2024;
Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) (Amendment) Bill, 2024;
Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill, 2024; and
Global Fund Privileges Immunities Bill, 2024.

The following THREE (3) Bills were passed with amendments:

Customs and Excise Duties (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2024;
Movable Property Security Rights Bill, 2024; and
Finance Belize (Recognition and Exemption) Bill, 2024.

Before the adjournment of the Sitting of the House of Representatives, Honourable Members of the House had the chance to rise and speak on matters of national importance.