The House of Representatives convened today in the Chamber of the National Assembly Building in Belmopan for a Special Sitting. The Sitting began shortly after 10:00 A.M. with the Belizean Prayer done by Ms. Minelvia Santos. The Honourable Madam Speaker then made her statement by recognizing that we are in October, which is identified annually as Breast Cancer month. She further went on to acknowledge the following invited guests in the gallery, Mr. Freddy Nicholson-Senior Optometrist, Ms. Jackie Hemsley – Primary Eye Care Manager and Ms. Carla Ayres-Musa, Executive Director, from the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired (BCVI). Members of the National Assembly Staff Committee and the staff of the National Assembly did their eye screening on World Sight Day and the Honourable Madam Speaker encouraged all members to take up the kind service being offered by the BCVI today at the National Assembly to get their eyes checked in an effort to promote annual eye screening. The Honourable Madam Speaker also acknowledged the presence of a few of this year’s youth Parliamentarians who will be participating in the National Youth Parliament which will take place on November 11, 2022.
The business of the day then began with the following:
PAPER
Sessional Paper No. HR128/1/13 – Annual Report of the Development Finance Corporation for the year 2021, was presented by the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment and was ordered to lie on the Table.
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
The following under-mentioned Bills were introduced:
- Customs and Excise Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Bill for an Act to amend the Customs and Excise Duties Act, Chapter 48 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020; to implement the Customs and Excise Tariff and Trade Classification based on the 2022 version of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System; to implement the ninth phase of reduction of duties in accordance with the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement; to implement the ninth phase of reduction of duties in accordance with the CARIFORUM-Uk Economic Partnership Agreement; to implement the first phase of reduction of duties in accordance with the Belize/Taiwan Economic Cooperation Agreement; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment)
- Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Bill for an Act to amend the Marriage Act, Chapter 174 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020; to provide for the late filing of marriages; to empower the Registrar to make regulations for the late filing of marriages; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(The Honourable Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Technology)
MOTION
The Below undermentioned Motion was introduced and adopted at today’s Sitting.
- 2018 General Increase in Authorized Capital Stock of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Finance Corporation Motion, 2022.
(The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment)
BILLS FOR SECOND READING
The below under-mentioned Bills passed through all their stages forthwith, however the Belize Constitution (Twelfth Amendment) Bill, 2022, and the Patents (Amendment) Bill, 2022 passed without amendments and the Senior Courts Bill, 2022; Non-Governmental Organisations (Amendment) Bill, 2022; and The People’s Constitution Commission Bill, 2022, passed with amendments.
- Belize Constitution (Twelfth Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Bill for an Act to amend the Belize Constitution, Chapter 4 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020; to establish the Senior Courts of Belize; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
- Senior Courts Bill, 2022.
Bill for an Act to repeal and replace the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, Chapter 91 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020; and the Court of Appeal Act Chapter 90 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020; to provide for new positions within the judiciary to assist in the functioning and administration of the Senior Courts; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
- Patents (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Bill for an Act to amend the Patents Act, Chapter 253 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020; to remove the seat of Registrar of Intellectual Property from the Solicitor General; to provide for the appointment of a Registrar of Intellectual Property; to provide, in the interest of administrative and operational efficiency, for the offices of Patent Examiners, Patent Officers, Trade Marks Supervisor and Trade Marks Examiners; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
- Non-Governmental Organisations (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Bill for an Act to amend the Non-Governmental Organisations Act, Chapter 315 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020; to provide for the appointment of a Registrar of Non-Governmental Organisations; to provide for the appointment of a Deputy Registrar of Non-Governmental Organisations; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(The Honourable Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Technology)
- The People’s Constitution Commission Bill, 2022.
Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of a People’s Constitution Commission to draft and guide the process of promulgating a new Constitution for Belize or amendments to the Belize Constitution; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(The Honourable Minister of Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform, and Religious Affairs)
For further information on the Orders of the Day, please click the link below: