The Senate convened today, 23rd December, 2019, at 10:04 A.M. in the Chamber of the National Assembly Building, Belmopan for a Special Sitting. Today’s meeting marked the last Senate Meeting for the Year 2019. The Honourable Darrell Bradley was absent at today’s meeting, therefore Vice President, Dr. Senator Carla Barnett sat in as Madam Chair. The meeting began with a word of prayer by Senator Reverend Ashley Rocke.
Today’s agenda was a bit short with only the Resolution Authorizing the Accession by Belize of the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (MCAA) on the Exchange of Country –by – Country (“CbC”) Reports, Motion 2019, being adopted and the passing of seven (7)Bills. Those 7 Bills are:
1. Deposit Insurance Bill, 2019;
2. International Banking (Amendment) Bill, 2019;
3. Chief of Defence Staff Bill, 2019;
4. Income and Business Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2019;
5. Free Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019;
6. Fiscal Incentives (Amendment) Bill, 2019; and
7. Tax Administration and Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
On the adjournment, Senator Isabel made a short intervention on a matter of national importance. As well, the Leader of Government Business, the Honourable Senator Godwin Hulse made a short intervention on the issue concerning his son and the comment on Social Media. The meeting was adjourned at 1:05 P.M.