Today, Friday, 13th December 2024, Honourable Members gathered in the Chambers of the National Assembly at the George Price Centre in Belmopan for a Sitting of the House of Representatives. The meeting began at 10:35 A.M. with the Belizean National Prayer offered by Pastor Margaret Shaw.
Following prayers, the Honourable Speaker Woods, in her announcement, acknowledged the absences of the Honourable Members for Freetown and Queen’s Square.
From here on, the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Investment, Civil Aviation, and Immigration moved that the House consider the Senate amendments for the Designated Processing Areas (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Next, FIVE (5) Sessional Papers were presented and laid on the Table between the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Investment, Civil Aviation, and Immigration and the Honourable Minister of Public Utilities, Logistics, and E-Governance, respectively:
- HR294/1/13 – The Annual Report from the Development Finance Corporation for the Year Ended December 31, 2023;
- HR294A/1/13 – Belize Government Lotteries Limited – Financial Statements for the Period from Inception to 31st March 2024;
- HR294B/1/13 – General Sales Tax (Amendment of Schedule) Order, 2024;
- HR294C/1/13 – Electricity Licensing and Consent (Amendment) Regulations, 2024; and
- HR294D/1/13 – Public Utilities Commission (Request for Proposals) (Amendment) Regulations, 2024.
Following, the Chairpersons of the respective Select Committees presented and laid on the Table the following TWO (2) Reports:
- HR295/1/13 – Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee on the Senior Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2024; and
- HR296/1/13 – Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee on the Resolution Authorizing Request for Affiliation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Motion, 2024.
Before the Introduction of Bills, the Honourable Leader of the Opposition and Member for Mesopotamia rose and asked THREE (3) Questions to the Honourable Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government, the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Investment, Civil Aviation, and Immigration, and the Honourable Minister of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.
*For more information on the contents of the questions and responses, please see the Orders of the Day and the live broadcast*
Subsequently, a total of FOUR (4) Bills were introduced between the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Investment, Civil Aviation, and Immigration, the Honourable Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government, and the Honourable Minister of Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform, and Religious Affairs, respectively:
- International Merchant Marine Registry Bill, 2024;
- National Health Insurance Authority Bill, 2024;
- Trade Licensing (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2024; and
- Law Revision and Law Reform Bill, 2024.
After the Introduction of Bills, the House approved the Resolution Authorizing Request for Affiliation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Motion, 2024.
The Sitting was briefly suspended to allow the Public Service, Labour, Industry, and Trade Committee to meet and conduct its business. After resuming, the Report, No. HR297/1/13 – Report from the Public Service, Labour, Industry, and Trade Committee on the Trade Licensing (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2024, was presented and ordered to be laid on the Table.
Today, the House of Representatives passed a total of TWO (2) Bills without amendment:
- Trade Licensing (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2024; and
- Senior Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Before the adjournment of the Sitting of the House of Representatives, Honourable Members of the House had the chance to rise and speak on matters of national importance.
*For more information on the matters discussed before the adjournment, kindly refer to the live broadcast of the Sitting*
Before the adjournment, Honourable Members wished everyone a happy and safe holiday. This summarizes the events of this Special Sitting of the House of Representatives with the meeting adjourning at 2:06 P.M.
For further information on the Orders of the Day, please see the links below:
For access to the Draft Bills introduced, please see the link below:
https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/draft-bills/
For access to the broadcast of the Sitting, kindly see the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/live/3R2UHRUi-rk?si=vXahs2bE4QfxevP3