Special Sitting of the Senate on Monday, 5th June 2023

Today, Monday, 5^th June 2023, Honourable Senators gathered in the National Assembly Chamber in Belmopan City for a Special Sitting of the Senate. The meeting began at 10:05 A.M. with the Belizean National Prayer offered by the Honourable, Senator Beverly Williams.

After Madam President’s remarks, the Leader of Government Business, Senator Eamon Courtenay introduced ELEVEN (11) Bills as follows:

Public Sector Emoluments and Allowances Reduction (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
Credit Unions (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
Central Bank of Belize (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
Domestic Banks and Financial Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
International Banking (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
Moneylenders (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
National Payment System (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
Lotteries Control (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
Law Revision (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and
Special Prosecutor Bill, 2023.

For this Senate meeting, a total of TWENTY-SIX (26) papers were ordered to lie on the table.

Today, the following SEVEN (7) Motions were adopted by the Senate:

Development Finance Corporation Loan Facility from the Social Security Board to Provide Financing Primarily for the on-going Mortgage Finance Program-BZE$20 Million Loan Motion, 2023.
Saudi Fund for Development Tertiary Level Hospital Project in Belmopan 168,750,000 Saudi Riyals Loan Motion, 2023.
Motion for the Establishment of the Women’s Parliamentarian Caucus Standing Committee, 2023.
Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance by Belize of the Protocol Amending the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies Motion, 2023.
Resolution Authorizing the Accession to the Minamata Convention on Mercury Motion, 2023.
Resolution Authorizing the Ratification by Belize of the Framework Agreement on Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Government of Belize, Motion, 2023.
Resolution Authorizing the Accession by Belize to the Agreement for the Establishment of a Partnership Agreement between Member States of the Caribbean Community and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Motion, 2023.

As a result of the Motion for the Establishment of the Women’s Parliamentarian Caucus Standing Committee, 2023, the Standing Orders Committee met and agreed for the motion to be adopted. The Report was then ordered to lie on the table.

The following NINE (9) Bills were passed by the Senate:

Public Sector Emoluments and Allowances Reduction (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Credit Unions (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Central Bank of Belize (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Domestic Banks and Financial Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
International Banking (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Moneylenders (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
National Payment System (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Law Revision (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

The Leader of Government Business moved that the Extradition Bill, 2023, Lotteries Control (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Special Prosecutor Bill, 2023 all be deferred.