Today, Tuesday, 26th March 2024, Senators gathered in the National Assembly Chamber in the City of Belmopan for a Special Sitting of the Senate. The meeting began at 9:00 A.M. with the Belizean National Prayer offered by Senator Elena Smith.

After prayers, the Honourable President of the Senate made a short announcement for Women’s Month while saluting and thanking all fearless, courageous, and hardworking women who are the nation builders.

 

Following was the Introduction of FIVE (5) Bills by the Leader of Government Business:

  1.  General Revenue Appropriation (2024/2025) Bill, 2024;
  2. Customs and Excise Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2024;
  3. Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Bill, 2024;
  4. Alternative Sentencing Bill, 2024; and
  5. Criminal Procedure (Plea Discussion and Plea Agreement) Bill, 2024.

 

Hereafter, Senator Courtenay then presented THREE (3) Papers which were ordered to lie on the Table:

No. 79/1/14 – Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2024/2025.

 No. 80/1/14 – Contract between Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment and Overseas Engineering and Construction Co., Ltda, S.A.

 No. 81/1/14 – Electricity (Tariffs, Fees, and Charges) (Amendment) Byelaws, 2024.

 

At today’s Special Sitting of the Senate, TWO (2) Motions were presented, discussed, and adopted by the Senate. They are as follows:

  1. Official Charities Fund Motion, 2024.
  2.  Resolution Authorising the Ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction Motion, 2024. 

The highlight of today’s Special Sitting of the Senate was Senators passionately sharing their contribution to the budget debate on the General Revenue Appropriation (2024/2025) Bill, 2024, for this fiscal year.

 

All FIVE (5) Bills were passed without amendment:

  1. General Revenue Appropriation (2024/2025) Bill, 2024;
  2. Customs and Excise Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2024;
  3. Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Bill, 2024;
  4. Alternative Sentencing Bill, 2024; and
  5. Criminal Procedure (Plea Discussion and Plea Agreement) Bill, 2024.

This summarizes of today’s Special Sitting of the Senate with the meeting being adjourned at 3:21 PM.

 

For access to the Orders of the Day, please see the link below:

https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Orders-of-the-Day-Tuesday-26th-March-2024.pdf

 

For access to the live broadcast, please see the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/live/sv3LdDmwp3U?si=7fyVY4CSeHD9TsFa 

 

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