On Monday, 10th July 2023, Honourable Senators gathered in the National Assembly Chamber in Belmopan City for a Special Sitting of the Senate. The meeting began at 9:35 A.M. with the Belizean National Prayer offered by the Honourable, Senator Erica Jang.
After prayers, a minute of silence was observed for a former Senator, the Honourable, Winston Smiling who passed away on May 27, 2023. Shortly after, Senator Luis Martinez subscribed to the Oath of Allegiance as Temporary Senator for the Sitting.
In her announcement, Madam President, the Honourable Carolyn Trench-Sandiford, expressed thanks to the former UN Resident Coordinator for Belize, Birgit Gerstenberg, congratulated Belize’s Special Olympians, Tiwannie Laurie, Kadine Thomas, Barrington Gentle, Laurie Pascasio and Annaliese Pascasio, for winning silver and bronze medals at the Special Olympian games held June 17 to 25 2023 in Berlin Germany, and lastly informed that the National Assembly was represented by herself at the 63rd Session of the Organization of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) Parliamentary Assembly and 43rd Session of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific – European Union (ACP-EU) Joint Parliamentary Assembly held June 20 to 29 2023 in Brussels, Belgium.
Following Madam President’s remarks, the Leader of Government Business, Senator Eamon Courtenay, said a few words in tribute to Senator Winston Smiling before introducing the FIVE (5) Bills as follows:
- International Banking (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2023;
- Domestic Banks and Financial Institutions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2023;
- Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
- Trusts (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and
- Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
For this Special Sitting of the Senate, the Inter-American Development Bank – Skills for the Future Program – (US$15 Million) Loan Motion, 2023, was introduced, debated, and approved by the Senate.
All FIVE (5) Bills introduced were passed without amendment, namely:
- International Banking (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2023;
- Domestic Banks and Financial Institutions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2023;
- Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
- Trusts (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and
- Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
With the permission of the President, Senator Kevin Herrera rose to speak on an issue of National Importance in regard to the energy situation in the country.
*For more information, kindly have a look at the link to the live broadcast of the meeting below.*
After concluding all matters for the day under Government Business, the Motion for the appointment of a Special Select Committee to investigate all documents, communications and processes tied to the signing of the document titled “Definitive Agreement by and between the Government of Belize and Portico Enterprises Limited (DBA) the Port of Magical Belize”, dated October 2020, and to investigate all documents, communications, and processes that resulted in the document titled “Definitive Agreement by and between the Government of Belize and Portico Enterprises Limited (DBA) the Port of Magical Belize”, dated October 2020, being presented to Cabinet (accompanied by draft legislation and Cabinet White Paper) in May, 2023, under Private Member’s Business, was introduced by Senator Janelle Chanona and seconded by Senator Kevin Herrera. The motion was debated and approved with amendments.
*For the amended text of this Motion, please see the link below*
This entails the matters discussed leading to the meeting’s adjournment at 1:01 P.M.
For access to the Orders of the Day, please see the link below:
For access to the live broadcast, please see the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/live/JY880wlxA2Q?feature=share
For access to the Motions passed, kindly see the links below:
https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/motions-passed-house-of-representatives-and-senate/
https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/motions-passed-by-the-senate-only/
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