The House of Representative’s Budget Presentation for Fiscal Year 2019/2020 took place on Friday, March 15, 2019, in the Chambers of the National Assembly Building, Belmopan. The meeting began shortly after 10:00 A.M. with the following on the Orders of the Day:
PAPERS
No. HR180/1/12 – Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2019/2020.
No. HR181/1/12 – Central Bank of Belize – Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2019.
No. HR182/1/12 – Central Bank of Belize – 2017 Annual Report & Statement of Accounts.
No. HR183/1/12 – Central Bank of Belize – 2016 Annual Report & Statement of Accounts.
No. HR184/1/12 – Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute Audited Financial Statements for the Year Ended March 31, 2018.
No. HR184A/1/12 – The Eighteenth Annual Report of the Ombudsman of Belize for the Year Ending 2018.
Sessional Paper No. HR180/1/12 was referred to the Committee of Supply for examination, consideration and report, while Sessional Papers No. HR181/1/12, No. HR182/1/12, No. HR183/1/12, and No. HR184/1/12 were ordered to lie on the Table; and Sessional Paper No. HR184A/1/12 was referred to the Ombudsman Reports Committee for examination, consideration and report.
BILLS INTRODUCED
- General Revenue Appropriation (2019/2020) Bill, 2019.
Bill for an Act to appropriate certain sums of money for the use of the Public Service of Belize for the financial year ending March 31, 2020.
- International Business Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
Bill for an Act to amend the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to remove the option by a company to meet physical presence requirements and to institute mandatory physical presence by such international business companies; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
- International Financial Services Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
Bill for an Act to amend the International Financial Services Commission Act, Chapter 272 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to strengthen the provisions relating to international financial services; to set the criteria for physical presence of persons licensed by the International Financial Services Commission as well as for international business companies; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
- Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
Bill for an Act to amend the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service Act, Chapter 282 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, to amend the number of Board of Directors required to form quorum for meetings of the Board; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
After the Rt. Honourable Prime Minister introduced the General Revenue Appropriation (2019/2020) Bill, 2019, he gave the Budget Speech.
MOTIONS
- Caribbean Development Bank – Sixth Road (Coastal Highway Upgrading) Project – (US$36,576,000) – Loan Motion, 2019;
- Caribbean Development Bank – Second Road Safety Project – (US$5,941,000) – Loan Motion, 2019;
- The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development – Kuwaiti Dinars 6,000,000 Million – Caracol Road Project – Phase II – Loan Motion, 2019;
- Re-Appointment of Ombudsman Motion, 2019; and
- Official Charities Fund Motion, 2019.
BILLS PASSED
- International Business Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019;
- International Financial Services Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2019; and
- Retired Persons (Incentives) (Amendment) Bill, 2018.
Absent at the Meeting were the Honourable Gaspar Vega and the Honourable Florencio Marin Jr.
Several Members spoke on the adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 2:48 P.M.
