There was a Special Sitting of the House of Representatives today, held in the Chamber of the National Assembly Building in Belmopan. The meeting began with a word of Prayer by Mr. Eufemio Cruz, then shortly after the Hon. Pablo Marin made a statement on the issue of the COVID-19 pandemic and measures that should be taken by the Belizean public at large.

On today’s agenda there were 4 Bills that were introduced and passed in one Sitting. Those Bills were:

1. Immigration (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Bill for an Act to amend the Immigration Act, Chapter 156 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to expand the duties of immigrants entering Belize; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

2. Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Bill for an Act to amend the Electronic Transactions Act, Chapter 229.03 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to promote the development of the legal and business infrastructure necessary to implement secure electronic commerce; to better facilitate electronic filing of documents with public bodies; and to promote efficient delivery by public bodies of services by means of reliable electronic records; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

3. Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2020.

Bill for an Act to amend the Hotels and Tourist Accommodation Act, Chapter 285 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to provide for the Minister to make regulations in the interest of public safety, public order and public health if there is the threat  or outbreak of an infectious disease; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

4. Quarantine (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Bill for an Act to amend the Quarantine Act, Chapter 41 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to empower the Minister to declare the whole or any part of Belize to be an area inflicted by, or under the threat of an infectious disease; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

As well, there was one (1) Motion that was adopted and that is the Period of Public Emergency in the Southside of Belize City Declared by Proclamation of the Governor-General Motion, 2020.

Several Members of Government and the Opposition spoke on the adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 P.M.