Today, Friday, 9th April 2021, the House of Representatives convened in the National Assembly Chamber in Belmopan for the highlight of the day, the Budget Speech – “Today’s Sacrifice: Tomorrow’s Triumph” and presentation of the Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2021/2022, delivered by the Honourable John Briceño, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment.

The Meeting began shortly after a word of prayer followed by the swearing in of the Honourable Elvia Vega-Samos, Representative for Corozal Bay who won in the by-election on March 3, 2021. On the day’s agenda were the following:

Papers

No. HR9/1/13    – Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2021/2022.

(Was referred to the Committee of Supply)

No. HR10/1/13    – The Social Investment Fund of Belize – Financial Statements for the Years Ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 and Independent Auditors’ Report.

(Was ordered to lie on the Table)

No. HR11/1/13    – The Twentieth Annual Report of the Ombudsman of Belize for the Year Ending 2020.

(Was referred to the Ombudsman Report Committee)

 

Bills Introduced Only

1. Land Utilization (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to amend the Land Utilization Act, Chapter 188 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to strengthen the membership of the Land Subdivision and Utilization Authority; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(The Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining)

2. Supreme Court of Judicature (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to amend the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, Chapter 91 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to allow for civil proceedings to be continued and determined by another judge if the judge before whom the proceedings took place has demitted office, is removed from office, retires from office or dies; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

3. Court of Appeal (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to amend the Court of Appeal Act, Chapter 90 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to allow for civil appeals to be continued and determined by another judge or the remaining panel of judges if a judge before whom the proceedings took place has demitted office, is removed from office, retires from office or dies; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

4. Court of Appeal Decisions (Validation) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to validate the decisions of the Court of Appeal in instances where a judge has died or vacated office; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(The Honourable Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Technology)

5. Public Health (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to amend the Public Health Act, Chapter 40 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to provide for

the control and regulation of vaccines; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(The Honourable Minister of Health and Wellness)

6. General Revenue Appropriation (2021/2022) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to appropriate certain sums of money for the use of the Public Service of Belize for the financial year ending March 31, 2022.

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

7. Belize Constitution (Tenth 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 an additional ground for vacating the office of a member of the Belize Advisory Council, the Election and Boundaries Commission, the Public Services Commission and the Security Services Commission; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

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

 

  MOTIONS

1. Amendment of Standing Orders of the House of Representatives Motion, 2021.

2. Establishment of the National Assembly Staff Committee Motion, 2021.

3. Caribbean Development Bank – Philip Goldson Highway and Remate Bypass Upgrading Project (US$34, 300,000.00) Loan Motion, 2021.

4. . Inter-American Development Bank – Program to Support the Health Sector to Contain and Control Coronavirus and to Mitigate its effect on Service Provision (US$5.0 Million) Loan Motion, 2021.

5. Official Charities Fund Motion, 2021.

Motions 1 and 2 were adopted; Motions 3 and 4 were referred to the Finance and Economic Development; and Motion 5 was referred to the Committee of Supply.

On the adjournment the Honourable Moses Barrow, the Honourable Julius Espat, and the Honourable Patrick Faber made short interventions on issues of national importance.