Today, Monday, 11th November 2024, Honourable Senators gathered in the National Assembly Chamber at the George Price Centre in Belmopan City for a Special Sitting of the Senate. The meeting began at 9:18 A.M. with the Belizean National Prayer offered by Senator, the Honourable, Glenfield Dennison.

After prayers, the Honourable President of the Senate gave an announcement touching on the Parliamentary travels that took place since the last Senate meeting. The Honourable President also mentioned that the normal social media live broadcasts will have a slight streaming delay.

 

Following the President’s announcement was the introduction of SEVEN (7) Bills by the Leader of Government Business, the Honourable, Senator Eamon Courtenay as follows:

  1.  General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2024/2025) Bill, 2024;
  2.  Customs and Excise Duties (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024;
  3.  Movable Property Security Rights Bill, 2024;
  4.  Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders)(Amendment) Bill, 2024;
  5.  Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill, 2024;
  6.  Finance Belize (Recognition and Exemption) Bill, 2024; and
  7.  Global Fund Privileges and Immunities Bill, 2024.

  

At this Special Sitting of the Senate, Senator Eamon Courtenay presented NINE (9) Papers which were ordered to lie on the Table:

No. 83/1/14 –       Supplementary Appropriation Schedule for Fiscal Year 2024/2025.

 No. 84/1/14 –       Central Bank of Belize – Forty-Second Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for the Year Ending 31st December 2023.

 No. 85/1/14 –       Central Bank of Belize – Revised Estimates of Income and Expenditure for the year 2024.

 No. 86/1/14 –       The Twenty-Second Annual Report of the Contractor General for the period April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024.

 No. 87/1/14 –       The Twenty-First Annual Report of the Ombudsman of Belize for the period January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.

 No. 88/1/14 –       Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations, 2024.

 No. 89/1/14 –       Electricity (Tariffs, Fees and Charges) (Amendment) (No.2) Byelaws, 2024.

 No. 90/1/14 –       Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing – Civil Works Contract Agreement – Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway Upgrading Project (Mile 6 Hummingbird Highway to Hopkins Junction).

 No. 91/1/14 –       Belize Social Investment Fund Audited Statements for the Fiscal Year ending March 31, 2024.

 

On today’s Agenda, NINE (9) Motions were presented and discussed as follows:

  1. Caribbean Development Bank – Ninth Consolidated Line of Credit for the Development Finance Corporation – Loan and Guarantee Motion, 2024.
  2.  Resolution to Celebrate 35 Years of Diplomatic Ties with Democratic Taiwan Motion, 2024.
  3.  Resolution Authorizing the Ratification by Belize to the Administrative Commission of the Economic Cooperation Agreement between the Government of Belize and the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Motion, 2024.
  4.  Resolution Authorizing the Accession by Belize to the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons Motion, 2024.
  5.  Resolution Authorizing the Ratification by Belize Relating to the Abolition of (or Exemption from) Visa Requirement for Holders of Diplomatic, and Official Passports between Belize and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Motion, 2024.
  6.  Resolution Authorizing the Ratification by Belize Relating to Visa Exemptions for Holders of Diplomatic, Official, Service and Ordinary Passports between Belize and the Republic of Benin Motion, 2024.
  7. Resolution Authorizing the Ratification by Belize to the Status Protections Agreement for the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) to Haiti Motion, 2024.
  8.  Resolution Authorizing the Accession by Belize Relating to the Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-Operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (1996) Motion, 2024.
  9.  Resolution Recommending the Appointment of a Person to Act as Auditor General Motion, 2024.

 

The Senate ratified EIGHT (8) of the Motions that were presented and discussed. The Resolution Recommending the Appointment of a Person to Act as Auditor General Motion, 2024, was held in the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee.

All SEVEN (7) Bills debated at today’s Sitting were passed by the Senate without amendments.

This covers the events of the Special Sitting of the Senate meeting which was adjourned at 3:06 P.M.

 

For access to the Orders of the Day, please see the link below:

https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Orders-of-the-Day-Monday-11th-November-2024.pdf

 

For access to the live broadcast, please see the links below:

 https://www.facebook.com/share/v/vHa4Q75uvK95eXbS/

https://www.youtube.com/live/ZBWrLMeiFO4?si=We-nxfP_5mWj0ciZ

 

For access to the Motions that were ratified, please see the link below:

https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/senate-motions-2024/

https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/house-senate-motions-2024/

 

******