Special Sitting of the Senate Thursday, 26th October 2023

Today, Thursday, 26^th October 2023, Honourable Senators gathered in the National Assembly Chamber in Belmopan City for a Special Sitting of the Senate. The meeting began at 9:04 A.M. with the Belizean National Prayer offered by the Honourable, Senator Bevinton Cal.

After prayers, Senator Luis Luke Martinez subscribed to the Oath of Allegiance for as a Temporary Senator on Senator Elena Smith’s behalf.

As it relates to announcements, the Honourable President of the Senate made three. The first touched on the 66^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Annual Conference held in Accra, Ghana, from 20^th September to 5^th October. The second was an invitation to three important activities taking place at the National Assembly of Belize. The third informed about World’s Children Day which will be commemorated on 20^th November 2023. In addition to these announcements, Madam President mentioned the presence of some of the Child Parliamentarians who are scheduled to have a short meet and greet after the Senate meeting with the Senators they are to represent in the upcoming Annual National Children’s Parliament being held Friday, 10^th November 2023.

Following the President’s announcement was the introduction of FOUR (4) Bills by the Leader of Government Business, the Honourable, Senator Eamon Courtenay as follows:

Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
Trade Licensing Bill, 2022;
Fiscal Incentives (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and
Referendum (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

During this Special Sitting of the Senate, the following FOUR (4) Papers were ordered to lie on the Table:

No. 71/1/14 – The Development Finance Corporation’s (DFC) Annual Report for the Year 2022.

No. 72/1/14 – Belize Social Investment Fund Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2023.

No. 73/1/14 – Central Bank of Belize – Annual Report and Statement of Accounts, 2022.

No. 74/1/14 – Central Bank of Belize – Revised Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2023.

Hereafter, the Leader of Government Business and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration rose to give a statement on behalf of the Government of Belize on the latest confrontation in the Middle East, specifically Hamas, Palestine and Israel.

After numerous debates, the following THREE (3) Motions were adopted by the Senate, namely:

Resolution Authorizing the Accession by Belize to the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Customs Organization and on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters Motion, 2023.
Resolution Authorising the Ratification of the Agreement on the Return or Sharing of Recovered Assets Motion, 2023.
Inter-American Development Bank – Promoting Sustainable Growth in the Blue Economy Program – US$7.0 Million – Loan Motion, 2023.