The House of Representatives assembled today, Thursday, 25TH March 2020, in the Chambers of the National Assembly Building primarily to continue its debate one the General Revenue Appropriation (2020/2021) Bill, 2020. The meeting began with a word of prayer by Pastor Ronald Hamilton and shortly after Madam Speaker took over the meeting with a short intervention on the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Order of the Day was as follow:

 Introduction of Bills.

1. Treasury Bills (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Bill for an Act to amend the Treasury Bills Act, Chapter 83 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to increase the maturity of Treasury Notes from ten years to twenty years; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

2. Supreme Court of Judicature (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Bill for an Act to amend the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, Chapter 91 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to allow the Chief Justice to make practice directions in instances of public interest and national security; to provide for the Minister to make regulations for the procedures to be used for prison video link appearances in criminal and civil causes and matters before Inferior Courts and Supreme Court; to clarify that petitions for divorce by consent are to be presented to the Court; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Resumption of the Debate on the General Revenue Appropriation (2020/2021) Bill, 2020.

1. General Revenue Appropriation (2020/2021) Bill, 2020.

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, 2021.

MOTIONS 

1. Official Charities Fund Motion, 2020.

2. Adoption of the Report from the Ombudsman Reports Committee on The Nineteenth Annual Report of the Ombudsman of Belize for the Year Ending 2019.

 

At today’s Meeting, the General Revenue Appropriation (2020/2021) Bill, 2020; Treasury Bills (Amendment) Bill, 2020; and Supreme Court of Judicature (Amendment) Bill, 2020, were passed as well, the two Motions were adopted. There was a Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2020, however, it was deferred.

All Members were present at today’s Meeting, except for the Hon. Julius Espat. The meeting was adjourned at 1:17 P.M.