Special Sitting of the Senate 6.12.21

The Senate met today, Monday, 6^th December 2021, in the Chambers of the National Assembly in Belmopan for a Special Sitting. The day began with the Belizean Prayer by Madam President. Following that, there was the Oath of Allegiance of two Temporary Senators namely, Senator Orson Elrington, who was alternate for Senator Darrell Bradley and Senator Jacklyn Burns, who was alternate for Senator Sheena Pitts.

On the day’s agenda were 10 Bills brought from the House of Representatives. Those Bills were

1. General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2021/2022) (No. 2) Bill, 2021;

2. Customs and Excise Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

3. The Belize Bank Limited Undertaking (Belize Bank Corporation Limited Operations) Vesting Bill, 2021.

4. Certified Institutions (Children’s Reformation) (Repeal) Bill, 2021.

5. Juvenile Offenders (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

6. Families and Children (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

7. Patents (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

8. Trade Marks (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

9. Law Revision (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

10. Sugar Industry (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Bills numbers 1 to 9 passed at today’s sitting. However, the Sugar Industry (Amendment) Bill, 2021, was held back in the Senate for further consultation.

There were 3 Papers that were ordered to lie on the Table. Those were Social Investment Fund – Audited Financial Statements for Year Ended March 31, 2021; The Nineteenth Annual Report of the Contractor General – February 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021; and Supplementary Appropriation (No.2) Schedule for Fiscal Year 2021/2022.

As well, there was a Statement by Ministers done by the Honourable, Senator Eamon Courtenay, Leader of Government Business and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration.

And last but not least, there were 2 Motions that were moved and adopted. Those are the Caribbean Development Bank – Natural Disaster Management – Immediate Response Loan – Hurricanes Eta and Iota – US$2.5 million Loan Motion, 2021; and Resolution Authorizing the Ratification of the Protocol to Amend the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas Motion, 2021.