Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697645676878.pdf (Belize)
BELIZE No.
16/1/13 SENATE Wednesday, 23rd August 2017 10:00 A.M. Pursuant to the direction of Mr. President, in writing, dated 18th August 2017, the Senate met in the National Assembly Chamber in Belmopan on Wednesday, 23rd August 2017, at 10:00 A.M. ***-*** Members Present: Senator, the Honourable Lee Mark Chang – President Senator, the Honourable Godwin Hulse – Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration Senator, the Honourable Dr. Carla Barnett – Vice-President and Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Natural Resources Senator, the Honourable Michael Peyrefitte – Attorney General Senator, the Honourable Macario Coy Sr.
Senator, the Honourable Stephen Duncan Senator, the Honourable Aldo Salazar Senator, the Honourable Eamon Courtenay Senator, the Honourable Valerie Woods Senator, the Honourable Paul Thompson Senator, the Honourable Markhelm Lizarraga Senator, the Honourable Rev.

Ashley Rocke Senator, the Honourable Elena Smith Senator, the Honourable Osmany Salas MR. PRESIDENT in the Chair.

PRAYERS by Rev.

Ashley Rocke.


BILL BROUGHT FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration signified his willingness to take charge of the Town Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration moved that the Bill be taken through all its stages forthwith.
Question put and agreed to.

MOTIONS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OR SITTINGS OF THE SENATE 2 The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration moved that, at its rising, the Senate adjourn to a date to be fixed by the President.

Question put and agreed to.

PUBLIC BUSINESS A.

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS I MOTIONS 1.


Resolution Authorizing the Ratification by Belize to the Protocol Amending the CARICOM Agreement on Social Security Motion, 2017.
The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration moved:- WHEREAS, the Protocol Amending the CARICOM Agreement on Social Security (hereinafter called “the Protocol”) was signed by Belize on 5th July 2017; AND WHEREAS, the objective of the Protocol is to provide greater clarity on Article 18: Payment of a Partial Benefit and Article 33: Application of Article 18 of the CARICOM Agreement on Social Security; AND WHEREAS, the Government of Belize is desirous of ratifying the Protocol pursuant to Article II of the Protocol; AND WHEREAS, section 61(A)(2)(a) of the Belize Constitution as amended by the Belize Constitution (Sixth Amendment) Act (No.
13 of 2008) provides that the Senate shall authorize the ratification to any treaty by the Government of Belize; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate authorizes the Government of Belize to ratify the Protocol, a full text of which is hereto annexed.

After the debate thereon, Motion was referred to the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee for examination, consideration and report.

2.
2.

Resolution Authorizing the Ratification of the Protocol to Amend Article 83 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas Establishing the Caribbean Community Including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy Motion, 2017.
The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration moved:- WHEREAS, the Agreement relating to the Operation of the CARICOM Development Fund (hereinafter called “the Amendment to Annex III”) was signed by Belize on 5th July 2017; !
3 AND WHEREAS, the objective of the Amendment to Annex III is to provide for the Less Developed Countries of CARICOM to receive grant disbursements in amounts that are equivalent at the minimum, to their respective contribution to the CDF; and to provide for the CDF Board to forward to the Community Council, any proposed changes to the terms and conditions of the access to the resources of the CDF; AND WHEREAS, the Government of Belize is desirous of ratifying the Agreement pursuant to Article XXXIV of the Agreement Relating to the Operation of the CARICOM Development Fund; AND WHEREAS, section 61(A)(2)(a) of the Belize Constitution as amended by the Belize Constitution (Sixth Amendment) Act (No.
13 of 2008) provides that the Senate shall authorize the ratification to any treaty by the Government of Belize; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate authorizes the Government of Belize to ratify the Amendment to Annex III, a full text of which is hereto annexed.

After the debate thereon, Motion was referred to the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee for examination, consideration and report.

3.

Accession to the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks Motion, 2017.
The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration moved that the Accession to the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks Motion, 2017, be deferred.

Question put and agreed to.

II BILL FOR SECOND READING 1.

Town Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration moved that the above-mentioned Bill be read a second time: Bill for an Act to amend the Town Councils Act, Chapter 87 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, to make provision, for greater autonomy to the Town Councils for raising funds for capital projects; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(Suspension of the debate on the Town Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2017.)

In accordance with Standing Order 10 (8), the Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration moved that the proceedings on the matter on the Order Paper be entered upon and proceeded with at the sitting at any hour though opposed.

!

4 Question put and agreed to.


(Resumption and continuation of the debate on the Town Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2017.)

After the debate thereon, question put, and a division was requested by Senator Eamon Courtenay.

The Senators voted as follows: Senator Godwin Hulse Barnett Senator Michael Peyrefitte Senator Macario Coy Sr. Stephen Duncan - - Aye - A y e S e n a t o r No - Senator Valerie Woods Senator Paul Thompson Senator Markhelm Lizarraga Senator Rev.
Ashley Rocke Senator Elena Smith Senator Osmany Salas - AyeSenator Dr. Carla Aye Aye - - AyeSenator Aldo Salazar E a m o n C o u r t e n a y S e n a t o r - - - - - - No No No Aye No No Thereon, the result was that seven (7) Senators voted “Aye” and six (6) Senators voted “No”.

Bill accordingly read a second time and, pursuant to Standing Orders, was committed to a Committee of the whole Senate.
III COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE SENATE ON MOTIONS AND BILLS In accordance with Standing Order 68A, the Senate, without question put, resolved itself into the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee, a Committee of the whole Senate, to consider the Motions referred to it and, thereafter, in accordance with Standing Order 54, into the Committee of the whole Senate to examine and consider the Bill that was read a second time.

(In the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee) MR. PRESIDENT in the Chair.

1.
1.

Resolution Authorizing the Ratification by Belize to the Protocol Amending the CARICOM Agreement on Social Security Motion, 2017.

Motion in its entirety agreed to.

Motion to be reported back to the Senate for adoption without amendment.

2.

Resolution Authorizing the Ratification by Belize to the Amendment to Annex III of the Agreement Relating to the !

5 Operation of the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) Motion, 2017.

Motion in its entirety agreed to.


Motion to be reported back to the Senate for adoption without amendment.

(In the Committee of the whole Senate) MR. PRESIDENT in the Chair.

1.

Town Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

Clauses 1 and 2 agreed to.

Bill to be reported back to the Senate without amendment.

PUBLIC BUSINESS A.

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IV MOTION (Adoption of Motion) 1.

Resolution Authorizing the Ratification by Belize to the Protocol Amending the CARICOM Agreement on Social Security Motion, 2017.
The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration reported that the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee met and considered the above- captioned Motion and has agreed for it to be adopted without amendment.

Question put and agreed to.

2.

Resolution Authorizing the Ratification by Belize to the Amendment to Annex III of the Agreement Relating to the Operation of the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) Motion, 2017.
The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration reported that the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee met and considered the above- captioned Motion and has agreed for it to be adopted without amendment.

Question put and agreed to.

V REPORTING AND THIRD READING OF BILL 1.

Town Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2017. !


6 The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration reported that the Committee of the whole Senate has considered the above-mentioned Bill, clause by clause, and has agreed upon it without amendment.

Whereupon the Senator moved that the Bill be read a third time.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.


ADJOURNMENT The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration moved that the Senate be adjourned.

After a short intervention by Senator Osmany Salas, question was put and agreed to.

The Senate adjourned at 1:42 P.M. to a date to be fixed by the President.

PRESIDENT ***---***---*** !