On the 12th of February 2023, a Special Joint Sitting of the National Assembly was held in the Government House in Belize City. The Special Senate meeting started at 12:03 P.M. with Senator, the Honourable Elena Smith leading prayers. President Carolyn Trench Sandiford then announced to the Senate that it is the wish of the House of Representatives to have the Senate join the House for an Address by His Excellency Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, President of the Republic of Cuba. The Senate concluded its meeting at 12:06 P.M. with Senator, the Honourable Christopher Coye moving the Motion for the adjournment, on behalf of the Leader of Government Business.
Shortly after, the Honourable Members of the House of Representatives convened at 12:15 P.M. for the Special House meeting which started with Prayers offered by Reverend Elswith Clare. Thereafter, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Marconi Leal, gave a brief announcement. The Deputy Speaker informed the Honourable Members that the Honourable President and Members of the Senate have been invited to attend the Special Sitting of the House of Representatives on the occasion of the visit by His Excellency Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez. After the Honourable Senators joined with the House, the meeting was briefly suspended at 12:20 P.M., as they waited for the arrival of President Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.
The meeting resumed at 12:38 P.M when President Díaz-Canel Bermúdez arrived and was escorted through the aisle by the Prime Minister, Honourable John Briceño, the Deputy Speaker Leal, and President Trench-Sandiford.
The Honourable Prime Minister gave an official welcome to the President of the Republic of Cuba and then delivered a brief speech. In his remarks, the Prime Minister gave thanks to the President of Cuba for his nation’s assistance over the decades and invited him to address the National Assembly. President Díaz-Canel Bermúdez rose to the podium and delivered his address to the National Assembly along with a speech regarding Belize and Cuba’s bilateral and diplomatic relationship. Afterwards, the President of the Senate delivered a warm thank you to the President on behalf of the Senate, followed by the Deputy Speaker who thanked the President for his visit and expressed his sincerest apologies for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Valerie Woods, as she was out of the country and unable to attend the historic event due to family medical reasons.
The Special Sitting of the National Assembly concluded at 1:20 P.M., where everyone stood as the Honourable Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives with the Mace Bearer exited the aisle, and the President of the Republic of Cuba, the Honourable President of the Senate and the Honourable Prime Minister stood and shook hands with the Members of the National Assembly before exiting the aisle.
For further information on the Orders of the Day, please click the link below:
For access to the live broadcast, kindly see the link below as well:
