The House of Representatives met today in the Chambers of the National Assembly Building in Belmopan. The meeting began shortly after 10:00 A.M with an opening prayer by Ms. Shalwa Leslie.

On the days agenda was one (1) Paper, No. HR30/1/13 – Contract Agreements for Philip Goldson Highway and Remate Bypass: Upgrading Project Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, and Caracol Road Upgrading Project – Lot 1C., that was ordered to lie on the Table.

As well, there were two (2) Motions.

1. Resolution to amend the Schedule to the Governor-General (Conditions of Service) Act, Chapter 7 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, Motion, 2021.

2. Belize House of Representatives Resolution on Palestine Motion, 2021.

However only the Resolution to amend the Schedule to the Governor-General (Conditions of Service) Act, Chapter 7 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, Motion, 2021, was adopted and the Belize House of Representatives Resolution on Palestine Motion, 2021, got deferred.

There were 12 Bills that were introduced:

1. Tax Administration and Procedures (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to amend the Tax Administration and Procedure Act, Act No. 8 of 2019; to authorize the Director General to publish the names of tax defaulters in the Gazette and any local newspaper; to amend the general provisions of Part X Criminal Proceedings pertaining to the prosecution of tax offences; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

2. Governor-General (Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to amend the Governor-General (Conditions of Service) Act, Chapter 7 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to provide for health insurance coverage for the Governor-General; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment)

3. Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act, Chapter 103 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to establish licensing, registration and operational requirements for the cultivation, processing, distribution and delivery of cannabis products for adult use; to provide for the Minister to make regulations for the monitoring and enforcement of any Regulations to the Act; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(The Honourable Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries)

4. Electronic Evidence Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to make provision from electronic evidence; to repeal the Electronic Evidence Act, Chapter 95:01 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(The Honourable Minister of Youth, Sports and E-Governance)

5. Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to amend the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to remove the fee for certifying documents as in compliance with the Act; to allow for certain fees to be prescribed by Order published in the Gazette; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

6. Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to amend the Stamp Duties Act Chapter 64 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to exempt certain documents of a company from the payment of stamp duties; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

7. Electronic Transfer of Funds Crimes Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to provide the regulation of the transfer of money through electronic means; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

8. Electronic Transactions Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to give legal effect to all electronic documents, records and signatures; to repeal the Electronic Transactions Act, Chapter 229:03 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment)

9. Belize Constitution (Eleventh 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 additional grounds for the disqualification of a person as a Member of the National Assembly; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(The Honourable Minister of Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform)

10. Data Protection Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to regulate the collection, keeping, use and dissemination of personal data; to protect the privacy of individuals in relation to their personal data; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

11. Public Sector Data Sharing Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to facilitate the sharing of data between public sector agencies and other entities; to provide for an Office for Data Analytics; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(The Honourable Minister of Youth, Sports and E-Governance)

12. Immigration (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to amend the Immigration Act Chapter 156 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to provide for the addition of a new category of visitor permit to allow visitors to work remotely from Belize; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(The Honourable Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration)

BILL FOR SECOND READING

1. Governor-General (Conditions of Service) (Amendment) 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.

Several Members spoke on the adjournment. The House was adjourned at 2:04 p.m.