Today, Friday 8th January 2021, the House of Representatives convened in the National Assembly Chambers in Belmopan for a Special Sitting. It was the first working session after the Inaugural Opening back in December.  The Sitting began with a word of prayer followed by Honourable Anthony Mahler being sworn in as a Member of the House of Representatives.

On the days agenda were two (2) Papers that were referred to the Committee of Supply for consideration, examination and report. Those were  No. HR1/1/13    – Supplementary Appropriation (No.5) Schedule for Fiscal Year 2020/2021; and No. HR2/1/13    – Supplementary Appropriation (No.6) Schedule for Fiscal Year 2020/2021.

Several Members of Government made statements.

There were also three (3) Motions that were adopted. Those are:

1. Adoption of the Report from the Committee of Selection Motion, 2021

2. Good Governance in Belize Motion, 2021.

3. Designate New Holidays and Special Days Motion, 2021.

As well there were eight (8) Bills that were introduced. Those 8 Bills are:

1. General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2020/2021) (No.5) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to appropriate further sums of money for the use of the Public Service of Belize for the financial year ending on the thirty-first day of March, two thousand and twenty-one.

2. General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2020/2021) (No.6) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to appropriate further sums of money for the use of the Public Service of Belize for the financial year ending on the thirty-first day of March, two thousand and twenty-one.

3. Central Bank of Belize (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to amend the Central Bank of Belize Act, Chapter 262 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to provide for emergency programs and facilities in unusual and exigent economic, financial or systemic circumstances; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

4. Finance and Audit (Reform) (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to amend the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act, Chapter 15 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, to provide for the establishment of a Contingencies Fund to be used for urgent and unforeseen expenditure for which no other provision exists; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

5. Belize Constitution (Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to amend the Belize Constitution, Chapter 4 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, to provide for additional grounds for the removal of a judge; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

6. Time Limit for Judicial Decisions Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to specify a time limit in accordance with sections 98 and 102 of the Belize Constitution within which a judge shall give a decision in a civil case and any appeal case; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

7. Public Contracts Commission Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to establish the Office of the Public Contracts Commission to monitor the award and implementation of public contracts for the purpose of ensuring that such contracts are awarded impartially and on merit; to investigate fraud, corruption, mismanagement, waste or abuse in the award of public contracts; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

8. Public Health (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to amend the Public Health Act, Chapter 40 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to expand the definition of infectious disease and dangerous infectious disease; to increase the penalty for the breach of regulations; to provide for violation tickets; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

However only two (2) Bills went through all their stages which were the General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2020/2021) (No.5) Bill, 2021; and the Public Health (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Several Members spoke on the adjournment.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 P.M.