Last Friday, 11th August 2023, 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 10:30 A.M. with the Belizean National Prayer offered by Ms. Shalwa Leslie.
Following prayers, the Honourable Speaker Woods made several announcements with the first bringing awareness of the unprecedented use of virtual participation by some Members of the House.
Secondly, it was announced that a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both Presiding Officers and the Belize Archives and Records Service is scheduled to take place on Monday, 14th August 2023. This is for the handing over of Belize’s Instrument of Independence for proper preservation and storage in honour of the celebratory month, and for the Parliamentary Records of the National Assembly to be done in a modern fashion.
Lastly, Honourable Woods gave an explanation as to why a ‘No Confidence Motion’ submitted by the Honourable Leader of Opposition was not tabled at the Special Sitting. This led to a Privilege Motion in accordance with Standing Order 29 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives before proceeding with the Business of the Sitting.
Thereafter, the following TWO (2) Papers were presented and ordered to be laid on the Table:
No. HR211/1/13 – George Price Highway Upgrading Project -Section VI – San Ignacio Town to San Jose Succotz.
No. HR212/1/13 – The Redivision Report of the Elections and Boundaries Commission to the National Assembly.
Hereon, was the presentation of a Report, Sessional Paper No. HR213/1/13 – Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee on the Belize Constitution (Eleventh Amendment) Bill, 2021, which was then ordered to be laid on the Table.
A total of THREE (3) Bills were introduced respectively by the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries, namely:
- Accounting Records (Maintenance) (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
- Customs and Excise Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and
- Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
There was a total of THREE (3) Motions that were introduced at the Special Sitting, respectively:
- Saudi Fund for Development – Construction of Solar Energy Plant Project – 288,750,000 Saudi Riyals/US$77 Million – Loan Motion, 2023.
- Caribbean Development Bank – Agricultural and Industrial Line of Credit for the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) – US$12.5 Million – Loan and Guarantee Motion, 2023.
- Inter-American Development Bank – Water Supply and Modernization Program – US$5.0 Million – Loan and Guarantee Motion, 2023.
The Sitting was briefly suspended to allow the Finance and Economic Development Committee to conduct its business. After resuming, the following Reports were presented and ordered to be laid on the Table, Sessional Papers:
No. HR214/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Accounting Records (Maintenance) (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
No. HR215/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Customs and Excise Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
No. HR216/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Saudi Fund for Development -Construction of Solar Energy Plant Project – 288,750,000 Saudi Riyals/US$77 Million – Loan Motion, 2023.
No. HR217/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Caribbean Development Bank – Agricultural and Industrial Line of Credit for the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) – US$12.5 Million – Loan and Guarantee Motion, 2023.
No. HR218/1/13 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Inter-American Development Bank – Water Supply and Modernization Program – US$5.0 Million – Loan and Guarantee Motion, 2023.
After a series of debates, all THREE (3) Motions introduced were passed, namely:
- Saudi Fund for Development – Construction of Solar Energy Plant Project – 288,750,000 Saudi Riyals/US$77 Million – Loan Motion, 2023.
- Caribbean Development Bank – Agricultural and Industrial Line of Credit for the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) – US$12.5 Million – Loan and Guarantee Motion, 2023.
- Inter-American Development Bank – Water Supply and Modernization Program – US$5.0 Million – Loan and Guarantee Motion, 2023.
Of the THREE (3) Bills debated, only TWO (2) were passed without amendment, specifically:
- Accounting Records (Maintenance) (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and
- Customs and Excise Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
The Belize Constitution (Eleventh Amendment) Bill, 2021, which was listed for its second reading was withheld in the Committee of the Whole House for further consideration and deliberation.
This encapsulates the events of this Special Sitting of the House of Representatives with the meeting adjourning at 5:13 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:
https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/draft-bills/
For access to the broadcast of the Sitting, kindly see the link below: