On Tuesday, 15th March 2022, the House of Representatives convened in the National Assembly Chamber in Belmopan for the highlight of the day, the Budget Speech – “Working Together For A Fair, Inclusive And Prosperous Belize” and the presentation of the Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2022/2023, 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 by Ms. Tanya Wade. On the day’s agenda were the following:
Papers
No. HR95/1/13 – Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2022/2023.
No. HR95A/1/13 – Supplementary Appropriation (No.4) Schedule for Fiscal Year 2021/2022.
No. HR96/1/13 – Development Finance Corporation – Annual Report for the Year 2020.
(Sessional Papers Nos. HR95 and HR95A were ordered to the Committee of Supply for examination, consideration and report. Sessional Paper No. HR96 was ordered to Lie on the Table.)
Bills Introduced
1. General Revenue Appropriation (2022/2023) Bill, 2022.
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, 2023.
2. General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2021/2022) (No. 4) Bill, 2022.
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-two.
1. Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Control and Licensing Bill, 2022.
Bill for an Act to provide for the control and licensing of cannabis and industrial hemp; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(The Honourable Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries)
2. Village Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Bill for an Act to amend the Village Councils Act, Chapter 88 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020; to provide for eligibility requirements for election as Chairperson or member of a Village or Community Council; to provide for a procedure for the resignation of an elected member of a council; to allow for the Deputy Chairperson to assume the powers and duties of the Chairperson during his absence from office; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(The Honourable Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government)
MOTIONS
1. Inter-American Development Bank – Program for Strengthening Public Expenditure Management in Belize – US$8 Million Loan Motion, 2022.
2. Official Charities Fund Motion, 2022.
Motion 1 was adopted; Motion 2 was referred to the Committee of Supply.
BILLS PASSED
1. General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2021/2022) (No. 4) Bill, 2022.
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-two
2. Central Bank of Belize (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Bill for an Act to amend the Central Bank of Belize Act, Chapter 262 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020, to further capitalize the Central Bank of Belize; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
3. Development Finance Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Bill for an Act to amend the Development Finance Corporation Act, Chapter 279 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020; to widen the scope of the Corporation’s purpose; to provide for a period of limitation; to provide for penalties and punishments for Directors and Officers of the Corporation; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment)
4. Indictable Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Bill for an Act to amend the Indictable Procedure Act, Chapter 96 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020; to expand the list of offences for trial without a jury in certain criminal cases; to allow for hearings or trials before the court to be conducted virtually; to allow for additional crimes to be included in a count of an indictment; to allow for the Schedules to be amended by Order; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
5. Inferior Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Bill for an Act to amend the Inferior Courts Act, Chapter 94 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020; to allow for hearings or trials before the court to be conducted virtually; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(The Honourable Minister of Education, Culture, E-Governance, Science and Technology)
6. Protection of Witnesses Bill, 2022.
Bill for an Act to provide for the protection of witnesses in criminal proceedings, by enhancing the ability of a witness to give testimony in judicial proceedings and to cooperate with law enforcement authorities; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(The Honourable Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries)
7. Fisheries Resources (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Bill for an Act to amend the Fisheries Resources Act, Chapter 210 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020; to provide specific penalties for certain offences; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(The Honourable Minister of The Blue Economy and Civil Aviation)
Bills 1-7 passed at today’s meeting.
On the adjournment the Honourable Moses Barrow, the Honourable Prime Minister and the Honourable Tracy Panton made short interventions.
Absent at today’s meeting were the Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia, the Hon. Michel Chebat, the Hon. Ramon Cervantes, the Hon. Denise Barrow and the Hon. Patrick Faber.
The Honourable Prime Minister named Thursday and Friday, 24th and 25th March 2022, respectively, for the continuation of the Debate on the General Revenue Appropriation (2022/2023) Bill, 2022.
The meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
