On Friday, 7th February 2025, Members of the House of Representatives gathered in the Chambers of the National Assembly Building in Belmopan for a Sitting of the House. The meeting began at 11:48 A.M. with the Belizean National Prayer offered by Mr. David Shaw.

 

In her announcement, Honourable Speaker Woods’ proposed to vary the sitting of to allow Statements by Ministers (Order 10) to be moved after Public Business (A. Government Business) which is (Order 14) to allow a statement to be delivered by the Honourable Prime Minister who informed the house of his late attendance. Honourable Woods also suspended Questions to Minister (Order 8) as the meeting started after the 11 O’ Clock hour.

 

 

After, the following TWO (2) Papers were presented and ordered to be laid on the Table:

No. HR298/1/13   –     Central Bank of Belize – Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the Fiscal Year 2025.

 No. HR298A/1/13 – Ministry of Infrastructure, Development, and Housing – Contract Agreement – Expansion and Rehabilitation of the Philip Goldson Highway (Mile 8 – Mile 24.5).

 

 Afterwards, the THREE (3) Reports were presented and ordered to be laid on the Table:

No. HR299/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the International Merchant Marine Registry Bill, 2024

No. HR300/1/13 – Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee on the Law Revision and Law Reform Bill, 2024,

 No. HR301/1/13 – Report from the Public Service, Labour, Industry, and Trade Committee on the National Health Insurance Authority Bill, 2024.

 

A total of SIX (6) Bills were introduced respectively by the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources, Petroleum, and Mining, and the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Education, Culture, Science, and Technology:

  1. Fiscal Incentives (Amendment) Bill, 2025;
  1. Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2025;
  1. Belize Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2025;
  1. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Bill, 2025;
  1. National Assembly (Powers, Privileges, and Immunities) Bill, 2025; and
  1. National Symbols Bill, 2025. (Brought to the house with clarifications on personal use)

 

A total of SEVENTEEN (17) Motions were introduced at today’s Sitting, respectively:

  1. Appointment of Auditor General Motion, 2025;
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 025-106001 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 3 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236004 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236005 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236006 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Loan Agreement No. 6020236007 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236008 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236009 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236010 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236011 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 1 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236012– Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development – Belize Reliant and Resilient Energy System Project – USD $58.2 Million – Loan Motion, 2025.
  1. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development through the International Development Association (IDA) – Belize Blue Cities and Beyond Project – (US$23.5 Million) – Loan Motion, 2025.
  1. Taiwan – International Cooperation and Development Fund – Expansion and Rehabilitation of the Philip Goldson Highway (USD$17.5 Million) – Loan Motion, 2025.
  1. Caribbean Development Bank – Seventh Power Project – Additional Loan to Belize Electricity Limited (US$6.2 Million) – Extension of Sovereign Guarantee – Guarantee Motion, 2025.
  1. Subscription to Multilateral Investment Fund IV – InterAmerican Development Bank – Subscription Motion, 2025.
  1. Inter-American Development Bank – Third General Capital Increase in Authorized Capital Stock of the Inter – American Investment Corporation (IDB Invest) – Subscription Motion, 2025.

 

The Sitting was briefly suspended to allow the Finance and Economic Development Committee, Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Health and Human Development Including Rural Development and Culture Committee to conduct their business. After resuming, the following Reports were presented and ordered to be laid on the Table by their respective Chairpersons:

              1.  HR 302/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Fiscal Incentives (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
  1.  HR 303/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
  1.  HR 304/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Belize Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
  1. HR 305/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No.2 to Loan Agreement No. 025-106001 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. HR 306/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No.3 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236004 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. HR 307/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No.2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236005 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. HR 308/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No.2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236006 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. HR 309/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No.2 to Amended and Restated Loan Agreement No. 6020236007 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. HR 310/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No.2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236008 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. HR 311/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No.2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236009 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. HR 312/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No.2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236010 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. HR 313/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No.2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236011 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. HR 314/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No.1 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236012 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. HR 315/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development – Belize Reliant and Resilient Energy System Project – USD $58.2 Million – Loan Motion, 2025.
  1. HR 316/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development through the International Development Association (IDA) – Belize Blue Cities and Beyond Project – (US$23.5 Million) – Loan Motion, 2025.
  1. HR 317/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Taiwan – International Cooperation and Development Fund – Expansion and Rehabilitation of the Philip Goldson Highway (USD$17.5 Million) – Loan Motion, 2025.
  1. HR 318/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Caribbean Development Bank – Seventh Power Project – Additional Loan to Belize Electricity Limited (US$6.2 Million) – Extension of Sovereign Guarantee – Guarantee Motion, 2025.

 

After a series of debates, FIFTEEN (15) Motions were referred to Committees and adopted, namely:

  1. Appointment of the Auditor General Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 025-106001 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 3 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236004 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236005 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236006 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Loan Agreement No. 6020236007 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236008 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236009 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236010 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236011 – Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) – Amendment No. 1 to Loan Agreement No. 6020236012– Loan Amendment Motion, 2025.
  1. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development – Belize Reliant and Resilient Energy System Project – USD $58.2 Million – Loan Motion, 2025.
  1. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development through the International Development Association (IDA) – Belize Blue Cities and Beyond Project – (US$23.5 Million) – Loan Motion, 2025.
  1. Taiwan – International Cooperation and Development Fund – Expansion and Rehabilitation of the Philip Goldson Highway (USD$17.5 Million) – Loan Motion, 2025.
  1. Caribbean Development Bank – Seventh Power Project – Additional Loan to Belize Electricity Limited (US$6.2 Million) – Extension of Sovereign Guarantee – Guarantee Motion, 2025

 

Of the SIX (6) Bills that were introduced, FOUR (4) were taken through all their stages and passed without amendment, and TWO (2) were referred to the corresponding Standing Committees:

  1. Fiscal Incentives (Amendment) Bill, 2025;
  1. Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2025;
  1. Belize Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2025
  1. National Symbols Bill, 2025;
  1. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Bill, 2025;
  1. National Assembly (Powers, Privileges, and Immunities) Bill, 2025;

 

ONE (1) Bill returned to the House for Second Reading after being Deliberated and passed without amendment by the Finance and Economic Development Committee and TWO (2) Bills originally scheduled for second reading were subsequently deferred to a later date:

  1. International Merchant Marine Registry Bill, 2024;
  2. National Health Insurance Authority Bill, 2024; and
  1. Law Revision and Law Reform Bill, 2024.

 

This encapsulates the events of this Sitting of the House of Representatives with the meeting adjourning at 8:16 P.M.

 

For further information on the Orders of the Day, please see the links below:

HOR Orders of the Day 2025

For access to the Draft Bills introduced, please see the link below:

Draft Bills 2025

For access to the broadcast of the Sitting, kindly see the link below: