Today, Monday, 10th February 2025, Honourable Senators gathered in the National Assembly Chamber at the George Price Centre in Belmopan City for a Special Sitting of the Senate. The meeting began at 9:56 A.M. with the Belizean National Prayer offered by Senator, the Honourable, Bishop Alvin Benguche.

In her announcement, the Honourable President of the Senate welcomed everyone to the first Senate meeting for 2025. She reflected briefly on the work of the Senate since this 14th parliamentary session which was inaugurated on December 11th 2020. She went on to state that 3 committees reported the works that they have done for the first time in the history of the Senate.

Following the President’s announcement SEVEN (7) Bills were brought from the House of Representatives by the Leader of Government Business, the Honourable, Senator Eamon Courtenay as follows:

  1. Senior Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2024;
  1. Trade Licensing (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2024;
  1. Fiscal Incentives (Amendment) Bill, 2025;
  1. Stamp Duties (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2025;
  1. Belize Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2025;
  1. National Symbols Bill, 2025; and
  1. International Merchant and Marine Registry Bill, 2024. 

Next, Senator Eamon Courtenay presented a series of Sessional Papers being:

  1. 93/1/14 – The Annual Report from the Development Finance Corporation for the Year Ended December 31, 2023.
  1. 94/1/14 – Belize Government Lotteries Limited – Financial Statements for the Period from Inception to 31st March 2024.
  1. 95/1/14 – General Sales Tax (Amendment of Schedule) Order, 2024.
  1. 96/1/14 – Public Utilities Commission (Request for Proposals) (Amendment) Regulations, 2024.
  1. 97/1/14 – Electricity Licensing and Consent (Amendment) Regulations, 2024.
  1. 98/1/14 – Central Bank of Belize – Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the Fiscal Year 2025.
  1. 99/1/14 – Ministry of Infrastructure, Development, and Housing – Contract Agreement – Expansion and Rehabilitation of the Philip Goldson Highway (Mile 8 – Mile 24.5). All of which were ordered to lie on the Table.

 

Following the presentation of Sessional Papers, presentations from Select Committees were ordered.

  1. 100/1/14 – Special Report from the Standing Orders Committee on matters relating to the Standing Orders of the Senate. (Senator Michael Peyrefitte)
  1. 101/1/14 – Report from the House Committee on matters relating to the renumeration, and allowances, and the comfort and convenience of Senators. (Senator Erica Jang)
  1. 102/1/14 – Report from the Committee of Privileges on matters which appear to affect the powers and privileges of the Senate. (Senator Bevinton Cal)
  1. 103/1/14 – Report from the Regulations Committee on matters relating to the regulations that are to be laid before the Senate. (Senator Bishop Alvin Benguche) 

Before going into Government Business, Senator Janelle Chanona  gave a personal explanation the work of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC), followed by Senator Bevinton Cal who gave a personal explanation of the work of Plan Belize in Southern Belize

*For more information on the personal explanations, please see the live broadcast*

On today’s Agenda, a total of NINETEEN (19) motions were presented:

  1. Resolution Authorizing Request for Affiliation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Motion, 2024.
  1. Resolution Authorizing the Ratification by Belize to the Framework Agreement for Grant Aid Between the Government of Belize and the Government of the Republic of Korea Motion, 2025.
  1. Resolution Authorizing the Ratification by Belize to the Agreement between the Government of Belize and the Republic of Korea Concerning Loans from the Economic Cooperation Fund Motion, 2025.
  2. Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance of the Amendments to the International Sugar Agreement, 1992 Motion, 2025.
  1. Appointment of the Auditor General Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 025-106001 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 3 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236004 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236005 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236006 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Loan Agreement No. 6020236007 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236008 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236009 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236010 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236011 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 1 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236012– Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development – Belize Reliant and Resilient Energy System Project – USD $58.2 Million – Loan Motion, 2025.
  2. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development through the International Development Association (IDA) – Belize Blue Cities and Beyond Project – (US$23.5 Million) – Loan Motion, 2025.
  3. Taiwan – International Cooperation and Development Fund – Expansion and Rehabilitation of the Philip Goldson Highway (USD$17.5 Million) – Loan Motion, 2025.
  4. Caribbean Development Bank – Seventh Power Project – Additional Loan to Belize Electricity Limited (US$6.2 Million) – Extension of Sovereign Guarantee – Guarantee Motion, 2025.

 

All SEVEN (7) Bills brought back from the House of Representatives were passed by the Senate at today’s Sitting. FOUR (4) of the motions were referred to the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee and FIFTEEN (15) of the motions were passed without amendments.

Senator Isabel Bennett-Moody spoke on the adjournment emphasizing the progress that has been happening at the Ministry of Agriculture, showcasing different types of flour, jam and spices that are being locally produced, giving importance to healthy eating.

*For more information on the presentation, please see the live broadcast*

This covers the events of the Special Sitting of the Senate meeting which was adjourned at 5:04 P.M.

 

For access to the Orders of the Day, please see the link below:

Orders of the Day

For access to the live broadcast, please see the link below:

 Special Sitting of the Senate Live Broadcast