Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694235265792.pdf (Belize)
BELIZE !

No.

HR25/1/11 Friday, 13th March 2015 !

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES !

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10:17 A.M. Members Present: !

The Hon.

Michael Peyrefitte, Speaker The Hon.

Dean O. Barrow (Queen’s Square), Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic Development The Hon.

Gaspar Vega (Orange Walk North), Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Natural Resources and Agriculture The Hon.
Erwin R. Contreras (Cayo West), Minister of Trade, Investment Promotion, Private Sector Development and Consumer Protection The Hon.

Patrick J. Faber (Collet), Minister of Education, Youth and Sports The Hon.

Michael Finnegan (Mesopotamia), Minister of Housing and Urban Development The Hon.

Manuel Heredia Jr. (Belize Rural South), Minister of Tourism and Culture The Hon.

Anthony Martinez (Port Loyola), Minister of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation The Hon.
John Saldivar (Belmopan), Minister of National Security The Hon.

Wilfred P. Elrington (Pickstock), Attorney General and Minister of Foreign Affairs The Hon.

Rene Montero (Cayo Central), Minister of Works and Transport The Hon.

Pablo S. Marin (Corozal Bay), Minister of Health The Hon.

Santino Castillo (Caribbean Shores), Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development The Hon.

Hugo Patt (Corozal North), Minister of State in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture The Hon.
Herman Longsworth (Albert), Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports The Hon.

Mark King (Lake Independence), Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation The Hon.

Edmond G. Castro (Belize Rural North), Minister of State in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Deputy Speaker The Hon.

Omar Figueroa (Cayo North), Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister The Hon.
Francis Fonseca (Freetown), Leader of the Opposition The Rt.

Hon.

Said Musa (Fort George) The Hon.

John Briceño (Orange Walk Central) The Hon.

Florencio Marin Jr. (Corozal South East) The Hon.

Michael Espat (Toledo East) The Hon.

Julius Espat (Cayo South) The Hon.

Dolores Balderamos Garcia (Belize Rural Central) The Hon.

Rodwell Ferguson (Stann Creek West) The Hon.

Oscar Requena (Toledo West) The Hon.

Ivan Ramos (Dangriga) The Hon.

Jose Mai (Orange Walk South) !

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The Hon.

Ramiro Ramirez (Corozal South West)  "2 Members Absent: The Hon.

Elvin Penner (Cayo North East) The Hon.

Marco Tulio Mendez (Orange Walk East) MR. SPEAKER in the Chair.

PRAYERS by Pastor Conrad Arzu.

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ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Mr. Speaker made the following announcement: “Honourable Members, it has presented to me that there are vacancies for membership in the following Committees: Public Utilities, Transport and Communications Committee; Education, Sports and Housing Committee; Natural Resources and the Environment Committee; Tourism, Archeology and Information Committee; and Ombudsman Reports Committee of the House of Representatives.
Pursuant to Standing Order 73, the Committee of Selection comprising of Honourable Michael Finnegan, Chairman; Honourable Wilfred Elrington; Honourable Edmond Castro; Honorable Santino Castillo, Honourable Florencio Marin Jr.; and Honourable Dolores Balderamos Garcia is charged with the task to recommend to the House the names of Members to serve on each Standing Committee.
Therefore, I propose with the concurrence of the House to suspend the Sitting to enable the Committee of Selection to consider and report to the House on the appointment of Members to fill the vacancies in the Committees as listed above.” Question put and agreed to.

The Meeting suspended.

The Meeting resumed.

PRESENTATION OF REPORT FROM COMMITTEE The Honourable Chairman of the Committee of Selection: No.
HR257A/1/11 - Report from the Committee of Selection on the Appointment of Members to fill the vacancy for the Chairmanship, as well as a Member in the Public Utilities, Transport and Communications Committee.

And also to fill the vacancies of membership in the Education, Sports and Housing Committee; the Natural Resources and Environment Committee; the Tourism, Archaeology and t h e I n f o r m a t i o n C o m m i t t e e ; a n d Ombudsman Reports Committee of the !

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Report was ordered to lie on the Table.

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PUBLIC BUSINESS A.

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS I MOTION !

1.

Adoption of the Report from the Committee of Selection Motion, 2015.
The Honourable Chairman of the Committee of Selection moved: BE IT RESOLVED that the Report from the Committee of Selection on the Appointment of Members to fill the vacancy of chairmanship as well as, a Member, in the Public Utilities, Transport and Communications Committee, and also, to fill the vacancies of membership in the Education, Sports and Housing Committee; the Natural Resources and Environment Committee; the Tourism, Archaeology and Information Committee; and the Ombudsman Reports Committee of the House of Representatives.
Question put and agreed to.

PAPERS The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development moved: No.HR258/1/11 - Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2015/2016.

No.HR258A/1/11 - Supplementary Appropriation (No.2) !

No.HR259/1/11 - Schedule for Fiscal Year 2014/2015.

Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, and 2012, an Actuarial Review of the Social Security Scheme - 2014. !

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No.HR259A/1/11 - The Fourteenth Annual Report of the Ombudsman of Belize for the year 2014.

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HR259B/1/11 - Central Bank of Belize Estimates of Revenue of Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2015.

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HR259C/1/11 - Report of the Auditor General for the Year April 2011 to March 2012.

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Sessional Papers Nos.

HR258/1/11 and HR258A/1/11 were referred to the Committee of Supply for examination and report; Sessional Papers Nos.
HR259/1/11, HR259B, and HR259C/1/11 were ordered to lie on the Table and Sessional Paper No.

HR259A/1/11 was referred to the Ombudsman Reports Committee for examination, consideration and report.

PRESENTATION OF REPORTS FROM COMMITTEE The Honourable Chairman of the Finance and Economic Development Committee: No.

HR260/1/11 - Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Write-Off No.

HR261/1/11 - (No.1) Motion, 2015. !


Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Write- Off (No.2) Motion, 2015.

Reports were ordered to lie on the Table.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Mr. Speaker made the following announcement: “Honourable Members, with the consent of the House, I propose to vary the order of the sitting today to allow the Introduction of Bills at item 12 on the order paper to be taken after the Committee of Supply at item 14.
This is to allow the introduction of the General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation Bill for the Financial Year 2014/2015 which, according to Standing Orders 71 of the House, cannot be introduced until the proposals have been approved by the Committee of Supply and agreed to by the House.

I therefore propose that the House resolve into a Committee of Supply under item “Government Business.” !

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Question put and agreed to.

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PUBLIC BUSINESS Government Business I COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY Pursuant to Standing Order, the House resolved itself into a Committee of Supply and the Speaker ordered the withdrawal of visitors from the galleries.

MR. SPEAKER left the Chair.

The meeting suspended.

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The Chairman in the Chair.

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[In the Committee] 1. !

Supplementary Appropriation (No.

2) Schedule for Fiscal Year 2014/2015.


The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and Economic Development moved: That the Committee approves the proposal set out in Sessional Paper No.

HR258A/1/11 referred to the Committee of Supply.

Question put and agreed to.

The Chairman left the Chair.

The meeting resumed at 10:55 A.M. MR. SPEAKER in the Chair.

II MOTIONS The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development moved: 1.
Supplementary Appropriation Schedule for Fiscal Year 2014/2015 Motion, 2015.

THAT the Committee of Supply has met and approved the proposal set out in the Sessional Paper No.

HR258A/1/11 - Supplementary Appropriation Schedule for Fiscal Year 2014/2015, and that the Honourable House agree with the proposal approved by the Committee of Supply.

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Question put and agreed to.

The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development moved: 2.

Write-Off (No.

1) Motion, 2015.


NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House approve the write-off of $14,647.21 as a loss to the Government of Belize.

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Question put and agreed to.

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The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development moved: 3.

Write-Off (No.

2) Motion, 2015. !

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 "6 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House approve the write-off of $30,000.00 as a loss to the Government of Belize.

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Question put and agreed to.


The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development moved: 4.

The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development Rehabilitation of Hummingbird Highway Project Loan Motion, 2015. !

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WHEREAS, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (hereinafter referred to as “the Kuwait Fund”) provides support to Arab and other developing countries by providing concessionary financing and technical assistance for implementation of key development projects and programmes; AND WHEREAS, the Government of Belize has requested assistance from the Kuwait Fund in the financing of the Rehabilitation of the Hummingbird Highway Project (hereinafter referred to as “the Project”); !

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AND WHEREAS, this Project comprises of the Rehabilitation of the Hummingbird Highway with of a total length of 55 miles, consisting of two lanes, a width of about 23 feet and shoulders of about 5 feet on each side, and includes improved drainage, new pavement layers, and the replacement of several single lane bridges with double width ones, as well as, safety provisions and new signage on the Highway; AND WHEREAS, the total cost of the Project is estimated at Seventy-five point one million (BZ$75.1 million) Belize Dollars; AND WHEREAS, the Fund has approved an offer of a Loan in the amount of Four Million (4.0 million) Kuwait Dinars equivalent to approximately US$13.5 Million to the Government of Belize to assist in the financing of this Project; AND WHEREAS, the approved funding will be used to finance: 40% of the amount needed for the civil works and 100% of the amount needed for the Technical Assistance and Institutional Support required under the Project; AND WHEREAS, it is expected that the OFID Fund will make a loan of US$12.0 million to the GOB to cover a further 32% of the total project cost and that the GOB will cover the remaining 28% of the project costs through counterpart resources; AND WHEREAS, the terms and conditions of the Kuwait Fund Loan Offer are as follows: Lender: The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development; !
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 "7 Loan Principal Amount: Kuwait Dinars 4.0 million (or approximately US$13.5 million); Disbursement Schedule: Withdrawals shall be made from time to time up to December 31, 2018; Loan Term: !

Grace Period: !

Repayment Period: !
Purpose: Twenty –four (24) years in total including Grace Period; Four (4) years from the Date of the Loan Agreement; Repayment in forty (40) semi-annual installments commencing July 15, 2018; To rehabilitate 55 miles of the Hummingbird Highway, to reduce travel times, and vehicle operating and road maintenance costs; Rate of Interest: At a rate of two percent (2.0%) per annum on the principal amount withdrawn and outstanding and payable semi-annually on January 15, and July 15, in each year; Service Charge: At a rate of one half of one percent (1/2%) per annum on the principal amount of the Loan withdrawn and outstanding payable semi-annually on January 15, and July 15, in each year; AND WHEREAS, under the provisions of section 7 of the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act 2005, the Government of Belize is required to obtain the prior authorization of the National Assembly, by way of a Resolution, for such a borrowing; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House, being satisfied that the loan proceeds would significantly contribute to the economic and social development of Southern Belize by improving the condition of the Hummingbird Highway, and addressing the increasing demand for the transportation of goods and services in the area, thereby promoting trade and business, approves and confirms that the Government of Belize may enter into a Loan Agreement with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development on the term and conditions set out above, and further authorizes the Minister of Finance to execute and deliver the said Loan Agreement and all other documents associated therewith.
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Cabinet’s recommendation to be signified by the Minister !

 "8 Pursuant to Standing Orders, Motion was referred to the Finance and Economic Development Committee for examination, consideration and report.

The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance sought the indulgence of the Honourable House to have the Motion be taken through all its stages forthwith.

Question put and agreed to.

The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development moved: !

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Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) – Belize Integral Security Program - Loan Motion, 2015. !
WHEREAS, Belize being a member of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), is eligible for development assistance in the form of loans, grants and technical assistance from the Bank on such terms and conditions as may be agreed between Belize and the Bank from time to time; AND WHEREAS, the Government of Belize has requested assistance from CABEI to finance the Belize Integral Security Program, the overall objective of which is to support the betterment of the quality of life for Belizeans and support regional efforts for the prevention, reduction and combat of crime; AND WHEREAS, the key goal of the Belize Integral Security Program is to strengthen citizen security by providing support to those institutions directly linked to maintaining National Security; AND WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of CABEI has approved financing in the sum of US $30,000,000; AND WHEREAS, the approved CABEI financing will be used for investments in infrastructure and equipment for the Belize Defense Force, Belize Police Department, Belize Coast Guard and the National Forensic Sciences Service, including construction works, refurbishing and improvement of existing buildings as well as the supply of specialized technical equipment, surveillance and monitoring equipment, mobilization equipment, etc., for these institutions; AND WHEREAS, the terms and conditions of the CABEI Loan Offer are as follows: Lender: Loan Principal Amount: Disbursement Schedule: The Central American Bank for Economic Integration; US $30,00,000.00; Withdrawals shall be made from time to time beginning with the effective date of the loan and ending five years thereafter; !
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Loan Term: !

Repayment Period: !

Purpose: !


Rate of Interest:  "9 Fifteen (15) years inclusive of a three year grace period, starting from date of first disbursement; To be repaid in equal, semi-annual and consecutive installments in the amounts and dates determined by CABEI; To strengthen citizen security in Belize by providing support and enhancing the capabilities to key institutions linked to maintaining National Security; 6-month LIBOR + a 355 basis point spread set by CABEI; !

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Other Charges: A Supervision and Administration Commission of one quarter of one percent (0.25%) on loan amount, to be paid once only, at the latest at the time of the first disbursement; AND WHEREAS, under the provisions of section 7 of the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act 2005, the Government of Belize is required to obtain the prior authorization of the National Assembly, by way of a Resolution, for such a borrowing; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Honorable House, being satisfied that the Loan Proceeds would support the betterment of the quality of life for Belizeans and support regional efforts for the prevention, reduction and combat of crime, by up scaling Belize’s National Security, approves and confirms that the Government of Belize may enter into a Loan Agreement with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration on the terms and conditions set out above, and further authorizes the Minister of Finance to execute and deliver the said Loan Agreement and all other documents associated therewith.
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Cabinet’s recommendation to be signified by the Minister Pursuant to Standing Orders, Motion was referred to the Finance and Economic Development Committee for examination, consideration and report.

The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance sought the indulgence of the Honourable House to have the Motion be taken through all its stages forthwith.

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Question put and agreed to.

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The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development moved: 6.
Alba Petrocaribe Belize Energy Limited Loan Motion, 2015. !

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"10 WHEREAS, in June 2005, the Republic of Venezuela and several Caribbean countries (including Belize) entered into an Energy Cooperation Agreement providing for the establishment of PETROCARIBE; AND WHEREAS, in furtherance of the said Energy Cooperation Agreement, Venezuela and Belize entered into a bilateral Energy Cooperation Agreement in September 2005; AND WHEREAS, pursuant to Article 1 of the said bilateral Energy Cooperation Agreement, Venezuela agreed to supply to Belize crude oil, refined products and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) up to four thousand barrels per day (4,000 bpd) on an annual basis, and designated Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) to supply the said petroleum products subject to certain terms and conditions; AND WHEREAS, to facilitate the supply of petroleum products, Belize and Venezuela established a joint venture company, ALBA Petrocaribe Belize Energy Limited (APBEL), consisting of the Venezuelan state owned enterprise, PDV Caribe, and the Government of Belize (GOB) owned company, Belize Petroleum and Energy Limited (BPEL); AND WHEREAS, APBEL has been jointly designated by Belize and Venezuela as the importing entity in Belize, for petroleum products purchased from PDVSA; AND WHEREAS, under the terms of the said Agreements, the supplies of petroleum products to Belize would consist of two portions, namely, a cash portion and a financed portion, in the ratio of approximately fifty percent each; AND WHEREAS, in September 2012, GOB and APBEL signed a revised loan agreement setting out the
 terms for lending the financed portion to the GOB; AND WHEREAS, under the terms of the said Agreements, the cash portion is payable to PDVSA by APBEL within 90 days of importation and the financed portion is lent by APBEL to GOB on concessionary terms, payable over 25 years at one percent (1%) interest per annum; AND WHEREAS, in November 2014, this Honourable House approved GOB borrowing from APBEL in the total sum of US $114,307,356 covering the period September 2012 to August 2014; AND WHEREAS, during the period September 2014 to February 2015, APBEL lent to the GOB a further sum of US $28,776,243.39; AND WHEREAS, the main terms and conditions of these further borrowings were as follows: Repayment Term: 23 equal annual installments over 25 years, inclusive of two years grace period; !
"11 Rate of Interest: 1% per annum payable on the outstanding balance from time to time; AND WHEREAS, the purpose of the borrowings was principally to finance capital projects, including the construction and rehabilitation of streets and road infrastructure countrywide; to finance the construction of sporting facilities; and to provide social and community assistance to the poor and the socially marginalized in accordance with GOB’s social and economic programmes; AND WHEREAS, section 7(2) of the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act, 2005, provides that any agreement effecting borrowing by the Government over or above the amount of ten million dollars, (BZ $10.0 million), or the aggregate amount of borrowings in any fiscal year exceeding the amount of ten million dollars, shall require a Resolution of the National Assembly authorizing such borrowing; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House, being satisfied that the loan proceeds from APBEL, on the terms and conditions set out above, would greatly assist the GOB in achieving the aforesaid purposes, confirms and validates the borrowing by the GOB from APBEL of the total sum of US $28,776,243.39 during the period September 2014 to February 2015.
Cabinet’s recommendation to be signified by the Minister Pursuant to Standing Orders, Motion was referred to the Finance and Economic Development Committee for examination, consideration and report.

The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development moved: 7.

Official Charities Fund Motion, 2015. !


BE IT RESOLVED THAT this House approves the expenditure of $2,352,589 from the Official Charities Fund as detailed in Appendix A of the Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year ending 31st March 2016.

Cabinet’s recommendation to be signified by the Minister Pursuant to Standing Orders, Motion was referred to the Committee of Supply for examination, consideration and report.

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STATEMENT BY MINISTER !

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D. BARROW (Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development) made the following statement: !

“Mr.

Speaker, I wish to read this statement into the records.

By now, the entire nation is aware of the confession recorded in the voice of the former Leader of the Opposition and current Member for Orange Walk Central, a confession as  "12 to the massive corruption and unmatched thievery of the Musa/Fonseca administration, 1998 to 2007.
It is, of course, that same administration in which the confessor served as Deputy Prime Minister for ten long years.

Mr. Speaker, that confession, in all its sickening details provoked immediate disgust and now, that disgust has been followed by outrage.

Outrage because the current Leader of the Opposition has told the media and the country to back off.

The matter, he says, is private PUP business.


(Applause) Mr. Speaker, how in God’s name can the robbery of millions and millions from the public purse be private PUP business?

Those tenths of millions were for the people, belonged to every man, woman and child in this land.

(Applause) Thousands of jobs could have been created with the millions that vanished in the BTL/INTELCO scam.
Tenths of thousands of deserving family members could have had homes built from the other millions lost in the Galleria Maya hustle.

(Applause) And the rest of the millions that disappeared from SSB and DFC could have funded improved pension benefits for workers, and social and medical care for all.

Mr. Speaker, the position of the PUP and the Leader of the Opposition in response to the testimony of the tape is, itself, a confession.
It is a confession that the People’s United Party has not changed one bit (Applause) since being booted from office.

For they speak now in exactly the same way they behaved then.

During their ten years they, indeed, acted as though the nation’s business and the nation’s money were exclusively the PUP’s business and the PUP’s money.
(Applause) And as though, carving up and parceling out the country’s wealth was, indeed, an internal party matter whether that wealth was cash, loans, contracts, shares, concessions, or exemptions.

I had earlier said that our two-party system requires respect for the Opposition.

But to get respect you have to give respect.

(Applause) And if this insult to Belizeans continues any longer, the Opposition will forfeit all entitlement to any respect.
On behalf of our democracy, on behalf of Belize, I, therefore, call on the Leader of the Opposition to reverse course, to stop this stonewalling, and to halt the cover-up.

He must address immediately, fully and publicly the comprehensive wholesale indictments of the PUP by its immediate pass team.

(Applause) Belizeans demand answers to the specifics of all the charges.
The disclosures, after all, are made by one who was there at the top occupying a vantage point for which he saw, couldn’t miss and has now documented every last piece of the PUP down heap, its mountain of stench and corruption.

(Applause) And it is not as though, Mr. Speaker, the Member for Orange Walk Central is estranged from his party.

He hasn’t been kicked out or suspended; it is not as though he is bent on revenge.
Despite the humiliation of Wednesday, when he was made to stand beside the current Leader of the Opposition and the ex Prime Minister, who accused him of being in effect mentally ill; despite that the member for Cayo South post him on facebook that he is a liar; the immediate past leader, the Member for Orange Walk Central, has not retracted one iota of the confession.
(Applause) And he remains a key executive of the party, number three in the hierarchy and cannot be sanctioned because he is telling the truth.

(Applause) So, Mr. current Opposition Leader, do not further dirty your office, and do not further sully your person.

You heard the pastor this morning make the point, you occupy a critical possession under the Constitution of this country on your obligations to speak now and come clean are clear.
Either discharge those obligations and do your duty or stand condemned forever before the bar of the Belizean history.” !

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INTRODUCTION OF BILLS 1.

General Revenue Appropriation (2015/2016) Bill, 2015.

The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development moved: !

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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, 2016.
Cabinet's recommendation signified by the Minister.

Bill read a first time and ordered to be printed.

Question put and agreed to.

The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development then moved the second reading of the General Revenue Appropriation (2015/2016) Bill, 2015, and delivered the Budget Speech.

Suspension of the Presentation of the Budget Speech.
The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development moved that, in accordance with Standing Order 12 (8), the proceedings on the matter on the Order Paper may be entered upon and proceeded with at the Sitting at any hour though opposed.

Question put and agreed to.

Resumption of the Presentation of the Budget Speech.
After the Budget Speech, the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development named Thursday and Friday, 26th and 27th March, 2015, respectively, as the days for the resumption of the debate on the second reading of the General Revenue Appropriation (2015/2016) Bill, 2015.

2.

General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2014/2015) Bill, 2015. !

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The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development moved: Bill for an Act to appropriate further sums of money for the use of the Public Service of Belize for the financial year ending thirty- first day of March, two thousand and fifteen.

Cabinet's recommendation signified by the Minister.

There being no debate, Bill read a first and second time and ordered to be printed.
MOTIONS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OR SITTINGS OF THE HOUSE The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development moved that at its rising today, the House adjourn to Thursday, 26th March 2015, at 10:00 A.M. !

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Question put and agreed to.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER !

Mr. Speaker made the following announcement: !

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“Honourable Members, it has been agreed that the following Motions pass this day: !

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The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development Rehabilitation of Hummingbird Highway Project Loan Motion, 2015.

Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) – Belize Integral Security Program - Loan Motion, 2015.
As you are aware, under Standing Order 74 all proposed legislations, messages, petitions, motions and other matters relating to the subject matter mentioned under the title of each Standing Committee shall be referred by the House to such Committee for examination, consideration and report to the House.
Other than by suspension of the Standing Orders, I hereby suspend the Sitting to enable the Finance and Economic Development Committee to examine, consider and report to the House on the Motions.” Question put and agreed to.

The Sitting was therefore suspended until the Finance and Economic Development Committee concluded its business.

The meeting suspended.

The meeting resumed at 12:16 P.M.


PRESENTATION OF REPORTS FROM COMMITTEE The Honourable Chairman of the Finance and Economic Development Committee: No.

HR262/1/11 - Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development Rehabilitation of Hummingbird Highway No.

HR263/1/11 - Project Loan Motion, 2015. !


Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) – Belize Integral Security Program - Loan Motion, 2015. !

Reports were ordered to lie on the Table.

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS III MOTION A. !

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The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development Rehabilitation of Hummingbird Highway Project Loan Motion, 2015.
The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, with the permission of the Speaker not to repeat the recitals, moved: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House, being satisfied that the loan proceeds would significantly contribute to the economic and social development of Southern Belize by improving the condition of the Hummingbird Highway, and addressing the increasing demand for the transportation of goods and services in the area, thereby promoting trade and business, approves and confirms that the Government of Belize may enter into a Loan Agreement with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development on the term and conditions set out above, and further authorizes the Minister of Finance to execute and deliver the said Loan Agreement and all other documents associated therewith.
Question put and agreed to.

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Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) – Belize Integral Security Program - Loan Motion, 2015.
The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, with the permission of the Speaker not to repeat the recitals, moved: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Honorable House, being satisfied that the Loan Proceeds would support the betterment of the quality of life for Belizeans and support regional efforts for the prevention, reduction and combat of crime, by up scaling Belize’s National Security, approves and confirms that the Government of Belize may enter into a Loan Agreement with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration on the terms and conditions set out above, and further authorizes the Minister of Finance to execute and deliver the said Loan Agreement and all other documents associated therewith.
Question put and agreed to.

IV BILL FOR THIRD READING 1.

General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2014/2015) !

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 "16 Bill, 2015.

The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development moved that the General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2014/2015) Bill, 2015, be now read a third time.

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 Question put and agreed to.

Bills read a third time.

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ADJOURNMENT The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development moved that the House be adjourned.

After debate thereon, question put and agreed to.

The House adjourned at 1:05 P.M. to Thursday, 26th March 2015 at 10:00 A.M. !

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