On Friday, 13th October 2023, Honourable Members gathered in the Chambers of the National Assembly Building in Belmopan for a Special Sitting of the House of Representatives. The meeting began at 10:35 A.M. with the Belizean National Prayer offered by Ms. Sylvia Castillo.

After prayers, Honourable Speaker Woods made several announcements with the first making mention of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The second announcement brought awareness to the National Assembly building’s 53rd year since renovation, and details of upcoming renovations. The third announcement shared information about the upcoming annual Children’s Parliament scheduled for Friday, 10th November. In the fourth announcement, the Honourable Speaker disclosed that the annual report from the Speakers Office will be shared at a later date and will be considered an annual report and mid-year review. Lastly, it was announced that Members can address disagreements but should ensure to do so in a respectful manner.

 

Next, the following FOUR (4) Papers were presented and ordered to be laid on the Table:

No. HR219/1/13   –    The Development Finance Corporation’s (DFC) Annual Report for the Year 2022.

 No. HR220/1/13   –    Belize Social Investment Fund Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2023.

No. HR220A/1/13   –  Central Bank of Belize – Annual Report and Statement of Accounts, 2022.

 No. HR220B/1/13   –  Central Bank of Belize – Revised Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2023.

 

Hereon, the following THREE (3) Reports were presented and ordered to lie on the Table:

No. HR220C/1/13   –  Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee following its meeting held on 11th October 2023, pursuant to Standing Order 74(1A) of the House of Representatives.

 No. HR221/1/13   –    Report from the National Security and Immigration Committee on the Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

 No. HR222/1/13   –    Report from the Public Service, Labour, Industry and Trade Committee on the Trade Licensing Bill, 2022.

 

A total of TEN (10) Bills were introduced by the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment, the Honourable Minister of Education, Culture, Science & Technology, the Honourable Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management, and the Honourable Minister of Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform and Religious Affairs, namely:

  1. Criminal Code (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2023;
  2.  Sumary Jurisdiction (Offences) (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
  3.  Climate Change and Carbon Market Initiatives Bill, 2023;
  4. Belizean Nationality (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
  5.  Economic Citizenship (Abolition of Rights) Bill, 2023;
  6.  Municipal Securities Bill, 2023;
  7.  Fiscal Incentives (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
  8.  Fiscal Incentives (Decisions of the Minister) (Validation) Bill, 2023;
  9.  National Accreditation Council of Belize (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and
  10.  Referendum (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

 At this Sitting of the House of Representatives, the Inter-American Development Bank – Promoting Sustainable Growth in the Blue Economy Program – US$7.0 Million – Loan Motion, 2023, was introduced.

Proceeding after was the Adoption of the Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee following its meeting held on 11th October 2023, pursuant to Standing Order 74(1A) of the House of Representatives Motion, 2023.

The Sitting was briefly suspended to allow the Finance and Economic Development Committee and the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee to conduct their business. After resuming, the following Reports were presented and ordered to be laid on the Table:

No. HR223/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Fiscal Incentives (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

No. HR224/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Inter-American Development Bank – Promoting Sustainable Growth in the Blue Economy Program – US$7.0 Million – Loan Motion, 2023.

 No. HR225/1/13 – Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee on the Referendum (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

At the close of the debates, the Inter-American Development Bank – Promoting Sustainable Growth in the Blue Economy Program – US$7.0 Million – Loan Motion, 2023 introduced was passed.

Of the TEN (10) Bills introduced at this Sitting of the House, the following FOUR (4) Bills were debated and passed:

  1. Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
  2.  Trade Licensing Bill, 2022;
  3.  Fiscal Incentives (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and
  4.  Referendum (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

 

Of the FOUR (4) Bills debated, TWO (2) were passed with amendments, namely:

  1. Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and
  2.  Trade Licensing Bill, 2022.

 

This summarizes the events of this Sitting of the House of Representatives with the meeting adjourning at 5:55 P.M.

 

For further information on the Orders of the Day, please see the links below:

https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Orders-of-the-Day-for-the-House-13th-October-2023.pdf

https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Supplementary-Orders-of-the-Day-1-13th-October-2023.pdf

https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Supplementary-Orders-of-the-Day-2-13th-October-2023.pdf

 

For access to the Draft Bills introduced, please see the link below:

https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/draft-bills-2023/

 

For access to the broadcast of the Sitting, kindly see the link below:

https://fb.watch/nF902bpTSO/?mibextid=2Rb1fB

https://www.youtube.com/live/0fazfeN01NI?si=ofpJeS0FPLiNMH5M