On Friday, 30th June 2023, Honourable Members gathered in the Chambers of the National Assembly Building in Belmopan for a Sitting of the House of Representatives. The meeting began at 10:15 A.M. with the Belizean National Prayer offered by Pastor Ranold Hamilton.
In her announcement, the Honourable Speaker alerted Members that today, Friday, 30th June 2023 marks the International Day of Parliamentarianism, and recognized all Members of Parliament as well as Parliamentary Staff.
Following the Speaker’s announcement, the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment moved that the House of Representatives accept the Amendments to the Lotteries Control (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and Extradition Bill, 2023, proposed by the Senate.
Hereon, the following THREE (3) Reports from the Finance and Economic Development Committee were presented and ordered to be laid on the Table:
No. HR205/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Inter-American Development Bank – Skills for the Future Program – (US$15 Million) Loan Motion, 2023.
No. HR206/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the International Banking (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2023.
No. HR207/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Domestic Banks and Financial Institutions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2023.
Following the Reports, the Leader of the Opposition, Honourable Member for Mesopotamia rose to ask the TWO (2) questions.
*For more information on the content of the questions and the responses, kindly refer to the Supplementary Orders of the Day (1) and the live broadcast of the Sitting.*
After the Leader of Opposition’s questions, the Member for Belize Rural Central, Minister of Human Development, Families & Indigenous People’s Affairs, gave a statement concerning the expansion of the list of goods that will be subject to regulation under the Supplies Control Act.
*For the full statement from the Member for Belize Rural Central, Minister of Human Development, Families & Indigenous People’s Affairs, kindly refer to the live broadcast of today’s Sitting *
Today, a total of THREE (3) Bills were introduced respectively by the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and the Honourable Minister of Health and Wellness, namely:
- Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
- Trusts (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and
- Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
The Inter-American Development Bank – Skills for the Future Program – (US$15 Million) Loan Motion, 2023 introduced at the last Sitting of the House has been approved in today’s Sitting of the House.
Where the THREE (3) Bills that were introduced are concerned, the Sitting was suspended to allow the respective Committees to conduct their business.
After the Sitting resumed its business, the following Reports from the Finance and Economic Development Committee were presented and ordered to be laid on the Table:
No. HR208/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
No. HR209/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Trusts (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Then, the below-mentioned Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee was presented and ordered to be laid on the Table:
No. HR210/1/13 – Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee on the Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Today, a total of FIVE (5) Bills were passed, respectively:
- International Banking (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2023;
- Domestic Banks and Financial Institutions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2023;
- Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
- Trusts (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and
- Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Of the FIVE (5) Bills that were passed today, the Domestic Banks and Financial Institutions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2023, was the only one passed with amendments.
This summarizes the details of today’s Sitting of the House of Representatives which concluded at 12:54 P.M.
For further information on the Orders of the Day, please see the links below:
https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Orders-of-the-Day-June-30-2023.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: