On Friday, 2nd February 2024, Honourable Members gathered in the Chambers of the National Assembly Building in Belmopan for a Sitting of the House of Representatives. The meeting began at 10:26 A.M. with the Belizean National Prayer offered by Pastor Minelvia Santos.
Following prayers, Honourable Speaker Woods made an announcement as it relates to the established process and procedures for leave to move the adjournment of the House for Definite and Urgent Matters of Public Importance.
Next, the following TWO (2) Papers were presented and ordered to be laid on the Table:
No. HR239A/1/13 – Central Bank of Belize – Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2024.
No. HR239B/1/13 – Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing – Contract Agreement – Municipal Infrastructure Development – San Ignacio/Santa Elena, November 2023.
Hereon, the following FOUR (4) Reports were presented and ordered to lie on the Table:
No. HR240/1/13 – Report from the Health and Human Development Committee on the National Women’s Commission Bill, 2023.
No. HR241/1/13 – Report from the Health and Human Development Committee on the Families and Children (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
No. HR242/1/13 – Report from the Public Service, Labour, Industry and Trade Committee on the Harbours and Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
No. HR243/1/13 – Report from the Education, Sports and Housing Committee on the Education and Training (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Following the Reports, the Leader of Opposition, Honourable Member for Mesopotamia rose to ask THREE (3) questions.
*For more information on the content of the questions and the responses, kindly refer to the Supplementary Orders of the Day (1) and the live broadcast of the Sitting*
Following the Questions, the Honourable Minister of Human Development, Families & Indigenous People’s Affairs made a statement concerning the Maya Land Rights Case.
* For more information, kindly see the live broadcast of the Sitting*
At this Sitting of the House of Representatives, only ONE (1) Bill, Private Security and Investigation Services (Control) (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was introduced by The Honourable Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries.
The Sitting was briefly suspended to allow the National Security and Immigration Committee to conduct their business. After resuming, the following Report, No. HR244/1/13 – Report from the National Security and Immigration Committee on the Private Security and Investigation Services (Control) (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was presented and ordered to be laid on the Table.
The following FIVE (5) Bills were debated at this Sitting of the House of Representatives:
- Education and Training (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
- National Women’s Commission Bill, 2023;
- Families and Children (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
- Harbours and Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and
- Private Security and Investigation Services (Control) (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Of the FIVE (5) Bills debated, NONE were passed with amendment.
This summarizes the events of this Sitting of the House of Representatives with the meeting adjourning at 2:34 P.M.
For further information on the Orders of the Day, please see the links below:
For access to the Draft Bill introduced, please see the link below:
https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/draft-bills-2024/
For access to the broadcast of the Sitting, kindly see the links below:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/MqHa1iZnNtpUABC4/?mibextid=qi2Omg
https://www.youtube.com/live/S-e9kkb7ZhU?si=GrotRX8nPFn0tc1L