Today, December 15, 2016, the Senate met for a Special Sitting. The meeting was the last one as the National Assembly goes on recess to end the year 2016. The Committee of the Whole met in the Committee Room of the National Assembly Building before the actual Senate Meeting took place. There was a temporary Senator, Mr. Rufino Lin, who took his Oath of Allegiance, in the absence of Senator Markhelm Lizarraga, who represents the Business Community. Two Motions were discussed in the Committee of the Whole, they were:

  1.  Resolution Authorizing Ratification by Belize to the Special Agreement between Belize and Guatemala to Submit Guatemala’s Territorial, Insular and Maritime Claim to the International Court of Justice Motion, 2016.
  2. Resolution Authorizing Ratification by Belize to the Protocol to the Special Agreement between Belize and Guatemala to Submit Guatemala’s Territorial, Insular and Maritime Claim to the International Court of Justice Motion, 2016.

Thereafter, they were later adopted during the Senate Meeting.

The Special Sitting of the Senate began at 11:24 A.M. in the Chamber of the National Assembly Building. There were 9 Bills listed below that were passed and 5 other Motions that got adopted at today’s Meeting:

BILLS

  1. General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2016/2017) (No.2) Bill, 2016.
  2. Money Lenders (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
  3. National Payment System Bill, 2016.
  4. Domestic Banks and Financial Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
  5. Electronic Transaction (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
  6. Food and Drugs (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
  7. Belmopan City Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
  8. Treasury Bills (Amendment) (No.3) Bill, 2016.
  9. Income and Business Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

MOTIONS

  1. Resolution Authorizing the Accession by Belize to the Co-operation Agreement for the Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARCAL) Motion, 2016
  2. Resolution Authorizing the Ratification by Belize to the Agreement Between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of Belize on the Mutual Exemption of Diplomatic Passport Holders from Short-Stay Visa Requirements Motion, 2016.
  3. Caribbean Development Bank Feasibility Study and Detailed Designs Crooked Tree Road and Causeway Upgrading Loan Motion, 2016.
  4. Caribbean Development Bank Immediate Response Hurricane Earl Loan Motion, 2016.
  5. Caribbean Development Bank Youth Resilience and Inclusive Social Empowerment (Rise) Project Loan Motion, 2016.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:50 P.M.