On Monday, 12th May 2025, 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 10:19 A.M. with the Belizean National Prayer offered by Mrs. Margaret McGann.
Oath of Allegiance of a new member: Oath administered to the Honourable Florencio Marin Jr.
The Honourable Marconi Leal Jr. made his announcements as the Speaker that pursuant to Standing Order 73, he had chosen the Members of the Committee of Selection, who would therein be tasked with recommending the names of Members to serve on the fourteen (14) House Standing Committees.
Honourable Marconi Leal Jr. would serve as the Chairperson of the Committee and the remaining Members would be:
- Honourable Anthony Mahler;
- Honourable Orlando Habet;
- Honourable Dr. Osmond Martinez;
- Honourable Tracy Panton; and
- Honourable Hugo Patt.
Since there were Bills and Motions scheduled to be referred to the Standing Committees, in pursuant to Standing Order 79 (7), the Speaker sought the indulgence of the House to suspend for the Committee of Selection to meet and report back to the House.
The Sitting resumed and the report No. HR01/1/14 – Report from the Committee of Selection on the Appointment of Members to the Standing Committees of the House of Representatives, was then presented and laid on the table by the Honourable Anthony Mahler.
The Motion was then adopted, moved by the Honourable Anthony Mahler, once more.
After, the following Paper was presented and ordered to be laid on the Table:
No. HR1/1/14 – Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2025/2026.
The Paper below’s presentation was deferred to a later date:
No. HR2/1/14 – Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Regulation of Transport at Border Points) (Revised) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025. (DEFERRED)
A total of SEVEN (7) Bills were introduced for first reading in the House: They are listed below:
The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Investment, Economic Transformation, Civil Aviation, and E-Governance:
- General Revenue Appropriation (2025/2026) Bill, 2025; (Referred to the Committee of Supply)
- Customs and Excise Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2025; (Referred to the Finance and Economic Development Committee)
- Insolvency and Bankruptcy Bill, 2025; (Referred to the Finance and Economic Development Committee)
The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Culture, and Immigration:
- Magistrate Court Bill, 2025; (Referred to the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee)
The Honourable Minister of Infrastructure, Development, and Housing:
- Belize Building (Amendment) Bill, 2025; (Referred to the Works Committee)
The Honourable Minister of Human Development, Family Support and Gender Affairs:
- Families Bill, 2025; (Referred to the Health and Human Development Committee) and
The Honourable Minister of Indigenous, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, and Transportation:
7. People’s Constitution Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2025. (Referred to the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee)
The Gaming and Lotteries Control Bill, 2025, initially scheduled to be introduced was deferred by the Honourable Prime Minister to a later date.
A total of FIVE (5) Motions were introduced by the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Investment, Economic Transformation, Civil Aviation, and E-Governance, at today’s Sitting. They are listed below:
- The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development – George Price Highway Project – (Belmopan to La Democracia Section USD$13 Million) Loan Motion, 2025. (Referred to the Finance and Economic Development Committee, and set to be taken through all its stages forthwith)
- Inter-American Development Bank – Third General Capital Increase in Authorized Capital Stock of the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IDB Invest) – Subscription Motion, 2025. (Referred to the Finance and Economic Development Committee)
- Subscription to Multilateral Investment Fund IV – Inter-American Development Bank – Subscription Motion, 2025. (Referred to the Finance and Economic Development Committee)
- Official Charities Fund Motion, 2025. (Referred to the Committee of Supply)
- Establishment of the National Assembly Staff Committee Motion, 2025. (Referred to the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee)
The Speaker, in accordance to Standing Order 74, sought the indulgence of the House to suspend the Sitting to allow the Finance and Economic Development Committee to consider the Motion set to be taken through all its stages.
The Sitting was briefly suspended at 3:11 P.M. to allow the Finance and Economic Development Committee to conduct its business and consider the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development – George Price Highway Project – (Belmopan to La Democracia Section USD$13 Million) Loan Motion, 2025.
After resuming at 3:30 P.M, the following Report was presented and ordered to be laid on the Table:
- HR 3/1/14 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development – George Price Highway Project – (Belmopan to La Democracia Section USD$13 Million) Loan Motion, 2025.
The Motion was thereafter adopted.
This encapsulates the events of this Special Sitting of the House of Representatives with the meeting adjourning at 3:50 P.M.
For further information on the Orders of the Day, please see the links below:
For access to the Draft Bills introduced, please see the link below:
For access to the broadcast of the Sitting, kindly see the link below: