Today, Wednesday, 16th September 2020, the House of Representatives met in the Chambers of the National Assembly in Belmopan for a Special Sitting. The Sitting began at 10:30 A.M. with a word of prayers by Mr. Eufemio Cruz.
On the day’s agenda were three (3) Papers. Those were Sessional Papers No. HR281/1/12 – Central Bank of Belize – 2019 Annual Report and Statement of Accounts; No. HR282/1/12 – Social Security Board – Financial Statements For the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and Independent Auditor’s Report; and Actuarial Performance Analysis of the Social Security Scheme as at December 31, 2019; and No. HR283/1/12 -Supplementary Appropriation (No.4) Schedule for Fiscal Year 2020/2021. Sessional Papers No. HR281/1/12 and No. HR282/1/12 were ordered to lie on the Table and Sessional Paper No. HR283/1/12 was referred to the Committee of Supply for examination, consideration and report.
As well there were eight (8) Bills for Introduction. Those were:
1. General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2020/2021) (No.4) Bill, 2020.
Bill for an Act to appropriate further sums of money for the use of the Public Service of Belize for the financial year ending on the thirty-first day of March, two thousand and twenty-one.
2. Treasury Bills (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2020.
Bill for an Act to amend the Treasury Bills Act, Chapter 83 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to raise the principal sums represented by Treasury Notes outstanding at any one time; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
3. Equal Opportunities Bill, 2020.
Bill for an Act to promote equal opportunities between persons of different status; to prevent and prohibit certain kinds of discrimination, including discrimination on the grounds of HIV positive status; to establish an Equal Opportunities Commission and an Equal Opportunities Tribunal; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
4. Immigration (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2020.
Bill for an Act to amend the Immigration Act, Chapter 156 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; in relation to the movement of nationals of Caribbean Community States; to provide for the expansion of the definition of dependant to include spouses and dependants of the national; the inclusion of new definitions, the clarification of the periods of automatic and indefinite stay for nationals of Caribbean Community States; the inclusion of Haiti to the list of qualifying Caribbean Community States; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
5. Caribbean Community (Free Movement of Skilled Persons) (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
Bill for an Act to amend the Caribbean Community (Free Movement of Skilled Persons) Act, Chapter 17:02 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to make provision, in the interest of administrative and operational efficiency, for inclusion of new definitions and the expansion of existing definitions, for the inclusion of new categories of approved persons among other things; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
6. Land Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
Bill for an Act to amend the Land Tax Act, Chapter 58 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to empower the Minister to remit land tax where there is the spread of an infectious disease; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
7. Radiation Safety and Security Bill, 2020.
Bill for an Act to provide for the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear technology, for the establishment of a regulatory body, for that purpose, to be known as the Radiation Safety and Security Office; and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
8. Cybercrime Bill, 2020.
Bill for an Act to combat cybercrime by creating offences of cybercrime; to provide for penalties, investigation and prosecution of the offences of cybercrime; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Of the eight (8) Bills, two were passed at today’s Sitting. Those were the General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2020/2021) (No.4) Bill, 2020 and Treasury Bills (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2020. As well, one (1) Bill was withdrawn which was the Equal Opportunities Bill, 2020.
Several Members of the House of Representatives spoke on the adjournment. The Meeting was adjourned at 3:10. P.M.