Today, Thursday, 8th February 2024, Honourable Senators gathered in the National Assembly Chamber in Belmopan City for a Special Sitting of the Senate. The meeting began at 9:14 A.M. with the Belizean National Prayer offered by the Honourable, Senator Erica Jang.

After prayers, Senator Linsford Castillo and Senator Jamall Swaso both subscribed to the Oath of Allegiance as Temporary Senators.

In her announcement, the Honourable President of the Senate addressed the matter surrounding the resignation of Senator Eamon Courtenay as a Minister and his continuation as Leader of Government Business in the Senate without being a Member of the Cabinet.

Following the President’s announcement was the introduction of EIGHT (8) Bills by the Leader of Government Business, the Honourable, Senator Eamon Courtenay as follows:

  1.  Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
  2.  Criminal Code (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2023;
  3.  National Accreditation Council of Belize (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
  4.  Education and Training (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
  5.  National Women’s Commission Bill, 2023;
  6.  Families and Children (Amendment) Bill, 2023;
  7.  Harbours and Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and
  8.  Private Security and Investigation Services (Control)(Amendment) Bill, 2024.

During this Special Sitting of the Senate, the following TWO (2) Papers were ordered to lie on the Table:

No. 77/1/14       –        Central Bank of Belize – Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2024.

 No. 78/1/14       –        Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing –Contract Agreement – Municipal Infrastructure Development – San Ignacio/Santa Elena, November 2023.

On the Agenda for this Special Sitting, only ONE (1) Motion, Resolution Authorising the Ratification of the Amendment to Paragraph 2 of Article 25 of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean Motion, 2024, was presented, discussed, and ratified by the Senate.

 

Of the EIGHT (8) Bills introduced at today’s Sitting, TWO (2) were passed by the Senate with amendments, namely:

  1.  Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and
  2.  Criminal Code (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2023.

The remaining SIX (6) Bills were passed without amendment.

This covers the events of the Special Sitting of the Senate meeting which was adjourned at 1:05 P.M.

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

https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Orders-of-the-Day-Thursday-8th-February-2024.pdf

 

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

https://www.youtube.com/live/lZZzzpyM8PE?si=_jYpqOZaOC3teR_R

 

For access to the Motion passed, kindly see the link below:

https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/senate-motions-2024/