On Wednesday, 14th December 2022, a special meeting of the Senate was held at the National Assembly Chamber in Belmopan. The meeting began shortly after 9:00 A.M. with the National Prayer of Belize offered by Senator Beverly Williams. Thereafter, temporary Senator Ian Jones subscribed to the Oath of Allegiance.
In her announcement to the Senate, President Trench Sandiford expressed her condolences to the family of former Speaker and President Sylvia Flores, who passed away last week. She also congratulated the Youth Parliamentarians who participated in the Children’s Parliament that was held last month and thanked the staff of the National Assembly and the National Committee for Families and Children (NCFC) for their assistance in organizing the event.
Meanwhile, Senator Eamon Courtenay, Leader of Government Business, introduced the below four (4) Bills as follows:
- General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (No.4) (2022/2023) Bill, 2022;
- Customs and Excise Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2022;
- Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2022; and
- Auditor-General (Extension of Prescribed Age) Bill, 2022.
The four Bills were approved by the Senate. Senator Courtenay also presented the below two (2) Papers which were ordered to lie on the table of the Senate:
No. 33/1/14 – Social Investment Fund – Audited Financial Statements for Year Ended March 31, 2022; and
No. 34/1/14 – Supplementary Appropriation (No.4) Schedule for Fiscal Year 2022/2023.
There were also six (6) Motions which were presented, discussed, and ratified by the Senate:
- Caribbean Development Bank and Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Loan Agreement – A Project to Support the Financing of Tertiary Education in Belize US$6.0 Million Loan and Guarantee Motion, 2022;
- International Cooperation and Development Fund Taiwan (ICDF Taiwan) Loan and Grant Agreement with the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to Support the Sustainability of MSMEs in Belize US$5.0 Million Loan, Grant and Guarantee Motion, 2022;
- Appointment of Ombudsman Motion, 2022;
- Resolution Authorizing the Accession of the United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts Motion, 2022;
- Resolution Authorizing the Ratification of the 2012 Cape Town Agreement (CTA) Motion, 2022; and
- Resolution Authorizing the Accession of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean (SPRFMO) Motion, 2022.
The Trade in Endangered Species Bill, 2022, which was read a first time and a second time on 18th July 2022, was once again discussed by the Senators in the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was approved with amendments.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 PM.
For further information on the Orders of the Day, please click the link below:
