Today, Thursday, 21st 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 9:15 A.M. with the Belizean National Prayer offered by Senator, the Honourable, Isabel Bennett-Moody.

In her announcement, the Honourable President of the Senate recognized the excellent work done by the Minister of Infrastructure, Development and Housing as well as all the other organizations who contributed to the renovation of the George Price Centre. Second, Madam President recognized the guests in the gallery, Ms. Allison Parker who is the UNICEF representative, Mrs. Maria Elena Contreras who is the Chairperson of the National Commission for Families and Children, Ms. Shakira Sutherland who is the Executive Director of the National Commission for Families and Children, the Honourable Emerson Tzalam who served as a Child Parliamentarian and President of the Senate in 2023, and the Honourable Lissany Castillo who was also a Child Parliamentarian and represented Senator Bevinton Cal in 2023. Madam President also recognized Mrs. Thea Ramirez Garcia who is the Chairperson of the National Women’s Commission. The purpose for the visitors to be present in the gallery is in relation to the Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2024 that was introduced in the 2023 Children’s Parliament.

Following the President’s announcement was the introduction of FIFTEEN (15) Bills by the Leader of Government Business, the Honourable, Senator Eamon Courtenay as follows:

 

  1. Social Security (Amendment) Bill, 2024; 
  1. National Health Insurance (Validation) Bill, 2024; 
  1. Financial Services Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024; 
  1. Securities Industry (Amendment) Bill, 2024; 
  1. Income and Business Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2024. 
  1. Tax Administration and Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2024; 
  1. General Sales Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2024; 
  1. Business Names (Amendment) Bill, 2024; 
  1. Designated Processing Areas (Amendment) Bill, 2024; 
  1. Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2024; 
  1. National Institute of Culture and History (Amendment) Bill, 2024; 
  1. Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2024; 
  1. Government of Belize and Social Security Settlement Deed Bill, 2024; 
  1. Disaster Preparedness and Response (Amendment) Bill, 2024; and 
  1. The People’s Constitution Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

 

Next, Senator Eamon Courtenay presented Sessional Paper, No. 92/1/14 – Public Utilities Commission (Request for Proposals) Regulations, 2024, which was ordered to lie on the Table.

 

Before going into Government Business, Senator Isabel Bennett-Moody gave a personal explanation on quality and International Men’s Day.

 

*For more information on the personal explanation, please see the live broadcast*

 

On today’s Agenda, the Resolution for the Expansion of the Protection of Belize’s Total Ocean Space and the Medium Bio-Diversity Protection Zones Motion, 2024, was presented, debated, and ratified by the Senate.

 

All FIFTEEN (15) Bills debated at today’s Sitting were passed by the Senate. The Designated Processing Areas (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was the ONLY Bill passed with amendments.

 

This covers the events of the Special Sitting of the Senate meeting which was adjourned at 2:14 P.M.

 

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

Orders of the Day

 

For access to the Motion that was ratified, please see the link below:

Motions

 

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

https://www.facebook.com/GOBPressOffice/videos/592921566461684/?sfnsn=wa&mibextid=2Rb1fB

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