On Thursday, 20th November 2025, at 10:26 A.M., a Special Sitting of the House of Representatives convened in the Chamber at the George Price Center. It began with prayers led by Mr. David Shaw and came to order as Members gathered to deliberate on legislative matters of national importance. The sitting demonstrated Parliament’s continued commitment to advancing critical legislative and financial initiatives for the nation.

Following the opening prayers, Speaker Valerie Woods made an announcement, commending Pastor Shaw for his spiritual leadership and noting the absences of six Members. Madam Speaker informed the House that, due to a minor three-month postponement in the National Assembly Building renovation project, the first parliamentary sitting of 2026, is anticipated to take place in the newly refurbished chamber in Independence Hill.  She extended the gratitude of Parliament to the Board, Management, and Staff of the George Price Centre for Peace and Development for their generous hospitality and steadfast support in providing temporary accommodating facilities for the National Assembly during this period of renovation.

Speaker Woods varied the order of the sitting, repositioning item 12 “Introduction of Bills” to occur after item 14 “Committee of Supply”. This procedural adjustment, which was agreed to by the Members, was necessary to allow for the introduction of the two General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation Bills, in accordance with House Standing Order 71, which requires that supplementary appropriation proposals are approved by the Committee of Supply before formal introduction.

PAPERS

A total of TEN (10) House Papers were presented and laid on the Table during the sitting:

Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Investment and Economic Transformation, Civil Aviation, and E-Governance:

  • No. HR33A/1/14 – Supplementary Appropriation (No.2) Schedule for Fiscal Year 2024/2025;
  • No. HR33B/1/14 – Supplementary Appropriation Schedule for Fiscal Year 2025/2026;
  • No. HR34/1/14 – Belize Government Lotteries Ltd. – Financial Statements for the Year Ended March 31, 2025;
  • No. HR35/1/14 – Social Security Board – Actuarial Performance Analysis of the Social Security Scheme at December 31, 2023;
  • No. HR36/1/14 – Social Security Board – Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2023, and Independent Auditors’ Report; and
  • No. HR37/1/14 – General Sales Tax (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations, 2025.

Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and New Growth Industries:

  • No. HR37A/1/14 – Supplies Control (Prices) (Amendment) (No.33) Regulations, 2025.

Honourable Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Solid Waste Management:

  • No. HR38/1/14 – Refrigeration Technicians (Licensing) Regulations, 2025;
  • No. HR39/1/14 – Environmental Protection (Ozone Layer Protection) Regulations, 2025.

Honourable Minister of Constitution and Religious Affairs, Indigenous Affairs, and Transportation:

  • No. HR40/1/14 – Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Regulation of Transport at Border Points) (Revised) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations, 2025.

REPORTS FROM SELECT COMMITTEES

THREE (3) important Committee reports were presented and laid on the Table, indicating that key legislative pieces have completed their Committee review stage:

  1. Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee:
    • No. HR41/1/14 – Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee on the Deoxyribonucleic Acid Bill, 2025.
  2. Natural Resources and Environment Committee:
    • No. HR42/1/14 – Report from the Natural Resources and Environment Committee on the Climate Change and Carbon Market Initiatives Bill, 2025.
  3. Finance and Economic Development Committee:
    • No. HR43/1/14 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on Caribbean Development Bank – Eighth Road Project – George Price Highway (Belize City to Hattieville) Loan Motion, 2025.

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY

The House resolved into a Committee of Supply to examine the Supplementary Appropriation Schedules for both fiscal years 2024/2025 and 2025/2026. In accordance with Standing Order 65, these deliberations were conducted in private, with media and visitors excused from the Chamber during this portion of the proceedings.   The Committee of Supply is chaired by the Hon. Prime Minister as the Minister of Finance.

MOTIONS

Following the Committee of Supply proceedings, the House approved the THREE (3) Motions:

  1. Supplementary Appropriation (No.2) Schedule for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Motion, 2025 – Approved by the House following endorsement of the proposals by the Committee of Supply.
  2. Supplementary Appropriation Schedule for Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Motion, 2025 – Approved by the House following endorsement of the proposals by the Committee of Supply.
  3. Caribbean Development Bank – Eighth Road Project – George Price Highway (Belize City to Hattieville) Loan Motion, 2025 – The House approved the Government’s authorization to enter into a Loan Agreement with the Caribbean Development Bank. The House, being satisfied that the loan proceeds would significantly assist the Government of Belize in its endeavour to rehabilitate the George Price Highway, confirmed that the Government may enter into the Agreement on the terms and conditions outlined, and authorized the Minister of Finance to execute all associated documents. This project aims to improve the efficiency, safety, accessibility, and resilience of Belize’s most heavily trafficked road network.  (This Loan Motion was introduced by the Hon. Prime Minister and debated and approved.)

LEGISLATION ON THE MOVE

EIGHT (8) new Bills were introduced and referred to their respective House Committees for examination, consideration, and report, except for the two Supplementary Appropriations Bills:

  1. General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2024/2025) (No.2) Bill, 2025 – Seeks to appropriate further sums of money for the use of the Public Service of Belize for the financial year ending March 31, 2025.
  2. General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2025/2026) Bill, 2025 – Seeks to appropriate further sums of money for the use of the Public Service of Belize for the financial year ending March 31, 2026.
  3. Financial Services Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (referred to the Finance and Economic Development Committee) – Amends the Financial Services Commission Act, Act No. 8 of 2023, to provide for the grant of a special licence for trading in virtual assets and other similar activities and operations.
  4. Sugar Industry and Cogeneration Project (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (referred to Finance and Economic Development Committee) – Amends the Sugar Industry and Cogeneration Project Act to extend exemptions from taxes and duties for the continued development of the cogeneration energy project.
  5. Judges Salaries and Pensions Bill, 2025 (referred to the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee) – Provides for the salaries, pensions, and other conditions of service of Judges of the High Court of Judicature and the Court of Appeal.
  6. Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (referred to the Public Utilities, Transport, and Communications Committee) – Strengthens the legal framework for detecting and deterring driving under the influence of alcohol through provisions for breath tests and analysis. The Bill also amends dealer licensing provisions for motorcycles, includes Caye Caulker Village as a municipality, and provides for payment of certain fees and charges to the Village Council.
  7. Justices of the Peace (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (referred to the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee) – Empowers select Senior Justices of the Peace to issue interim protection orders under the Domestic Violence Act in urgent and exceptional circumstances.
  8. Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (referred to the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee) – Complements the Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill by empowering select Senior Justices of the Peace to issue interim protection orders in urgent and exceptional circumstances.

BILLS FOR SECOND READING

FOUR (4) Bills were read a second time during the sitting:

  1. General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2024/2025) (No.2) Bill, 2025.
  1. General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2025/2026) Bill, 2025.
  2. Deoxyribonucleic Acid Bill, 2025 – This Bill establishes the National DNA Database and creates a framework for its operation to facilitate the collection and use of DNA samples in the investigation and prosecution of indictable offences. The measure provides for the management, retention, and destruction of DNA samples and profiles, establishes procedures for investigating missing persons and unidentified deceased persons, and creates an oversight body to ensure proper governance.
  3. Climate Change and Carbon Market Initiatives Bill, 2025 – This Bill develops, implements, manages, and regulates mechanisms to enhance climate resilience and low emission development for the sustainable development of Belize. It respects the objectives and principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, and establishes a market in Belize to trade carbon credits.

BILLS FOR THIRD READING

FOUR (4) Bills were read a third time and passed:

  1. General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2024/2025) (No.2) Bill, 2025 (Passed with no amendments)
  2. General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2025/2026) Bill, 2025 (Passed with no amendments)
  3. Deoxyribonucleic Acid Bill, 2025 (Thoroughly reviewed, clause by clause, in the Committee of the Whole House and passed with amendments)
  4. Climate Change and Carbon Market Initiatives Bill, 2025 (Thoroughly reviewed, clause by clause, in the Committee of the Whole House and passed with no amendments)

 

What’s Next in Parliament?

The House adjourned at 5:15 P.M. to a date to be fixed by the Speaker. The passing of these critical Bills and the approval of the Caribbean Development Bank Loan Motion demonstrate Parliament’s continued focus on strengthening governance, enhancing law enforcement capabilities, addressing climate change, and investing in critical infrastructure for national development.

Stay Engaged

This sitting reflects the National Assembly’s commitment to advancing legislative frameworks that support Belize’s economic development, public safety, and environmental sustainability. Members of the public are encouraged to stay informed, follow proceedings, and access sessional papers, Bills, and Hansards via the Assembly’s official website.

Together, let’s build a more informed and engaged Belize.

 

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