Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697637352108.pdf (Belize)
BELIZE No.37/1/13 SENATE Monday, 20th January 2020 10:00 A.M. ---*--- ORDERS OF THE DAY 1.

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Prayers.

Oath of Allegiance or Affirmation.

Announcements by the President.

Bills brought from the House of Representatives.

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Social Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Fisheries Resources Bill, 2020.

Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
(Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration Services and Refugees) 6.

Paper.

67/1/13 - Central Bank of Belize – Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2020.

(Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration Services and Refugees) 13.

Motions relating to the Business or Sittings of the Senate.

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Public Business.

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS I MOTIONS (For Text of Motions see Notice Papers attached) 1.

Resolution Authorizing the Accession by Belize to the Revised Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency Motion, 2020.

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Resolution Authorizing the Ratification of the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Community Accreditation Agency for Education and Training Motion, 2020.

Appointment of Contractor-General Motion, 2020.


The OPEC Fund for International Development US$10,000,000 – Upgrading of Caracol Road Project, Phase II – Loan Motion, 2020.
(Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration Services and Refugees) BILLS FOR SECOND READING COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE SENATE ON MOTIONS AND BILLS BILLS FOR THIRD READING 3 BELIZE No.37/1/13 SENATE Monday, 20th January 2020 10:00 A.M. ---*--- NOTICES OF QUESTIONS AND MOTIONS M O T I O N S 1.
Resolution Authorizing the Accession by Belize to the Revised Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency Motion, 2020.
WHEREAS, the Revised Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (hereinafter referred to as “the Agreement”) entered into force on 26th February 2011; AND WHEREAS, the objective of the aforementioned Agreement is to establish an effective regime of sanitary and phytosanitary measures pursuant to Article 57(1)(k) of the Treaty, in support of the goals of the Community Agriculture Policy as set out in Article 56 of the Treaty; provide regional and national support to the Community in the establishment, management and operations of their national agricultural health and food safety systems as they relate to the sanitary and phytosanitary measure of the SPS Agreement; and execute on behalf of those countries such actions and activities that can be more effectively and efficiently executed through a regional mechanism; AND WHEREAS, Belize wishes to accede to the Agreement in accordance with its Article XXVI; AND WHEREAS, section 61A(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 accession to any Agreement by the Government of Belize; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate authorizes the Government of Belize to accede to the Revised Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency, a full text of which is hereto annexed.

2.

Resolution Authorizing the Ratification of the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Community Accreditation Agency for Education and Training Motion, 2020.
WHEREAS, the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Community Accreditation Agency for Education and Training (herein referred to as “the Agreement”) was signed by the Government of Belize on 25th October 2017; AND WHEREAS, the objective of the aforementioned Agreement is to: promote and further develop a quality assurance ethos as the foundation for the development of a seamless, efficient tertiary education and training system in the Community; ensure the enhancement and acceleration of economic and social development in the Community through the widening of access to quality tertiary education and training; secure and 4 maintain international recognition; negotiate and conclude international agreements with third state entities, for the mutual recognition of tertiary institutions and the awards and programmes of study of such bodies; and facilitate the movement of skilled persons within the Community; AND WHEREAS, ratification is required in accordance with Article 33 of the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Community Accreditation Agency for Education and Training; AND WHEREAS, section 61A(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 Agreement by the Government of Belize; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate authorizes the Government of Belize to ratify the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Community Accreditation Agency for Education and Training, a full text of which is hereto annexed.

3.

Appointment of Contractor-General Motion, 2020.
WHEREAS, section 3(2) of the Contractor-General Act, Chapter 6 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, provides that the Contractor-General shall be appointed by the Governor-General, acting on the recommendations of both Houses of the National Assembly contained in resolutions passed in that behalf; AND WHEREAS, MR. OMAR MITCHELL is suitably qualified to be appointed as Contractor-General and fulfills the requirements contained in the Contractor-General Act; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House, being satisfied that MR. OMAR MITCHELL is a fit and proper person to be appointed as Contractor- General, recommend to the Governor-General that MR. OMAR MITCHELL be appointed as Contractor-General for a period of three (3) years with effect from 3rd February 2020.
4.

The OPEC Fund for International Development US$10,000,000 – Upgrading of Caracol Road Project, Phase II – Loan Motion, 2020.
WHEREAS, Member States of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), being conscious of the need for solidarity among all developing countries and aware of the importance of financial cooperation between them and other developing countries, have established the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) to provide financial support on concessionary terms to developing countries; AND WHEREAS, the Government of Belize aims at improving the connectivity and accessibility, between the George Price Highway and the Caracol Archaeological Site, through the upgrading of the Caracol Road; AND WHEREAS, the Government of Belize has requested assistance from the OFID for the partial financing of Phase II of the Project; AND WHEREAS, the OFID has approved an offer of a Loan of US$10 million to the Government of Belize, to finance 37% of the total costs of the civil works component of this Second Phase of the Project; AND WHEREAS, the approved financing will be used towards the widening and upgrading of the 42.9 kilometer road, reconstruction of eight reinforced-concrete bridges, construction of a drainage system and ancillary works, including the installation and relocation of streetlights and water mains and other protection and safety works; otice given on 5th March 2019.
5 AND WHEREAS, the terms and conditions of the Loan Offer are as follows: Lender: The OPEC Fund Development (OFID); for International Loan Principal Amount: US$10,000,000.00; Loan Term: 20 years (5 years grace period, plus 15 years repayment period); Grace Period: 5 years from the Date of the Loan Agreement; Repayment period: Purpose: Rate of Interest: Service Charge: in thirty (30) semi-annual Repayment installments comprising of twenty-nine (29) installments of 333,000.00 and one (1) installment of US$343,000.00 commencing December 15, 2024; To improve connectivity and accessibility, between the George Price Highway and the Caracol Archaeological Site, through the upgrading of the Caracol Road; At a rate of 2.5 percent per annum on the principal amount of the Loan withdrawn and outstanding, and payable semi-annually on June 15 and December 15 in each year; At a rate of one percent (1.0%) per annum on the principal amount of the Loan withdrawn and outstanding, payable semi-annually on June 15 and December 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 towards the continued efforts of the Government to improve access to the archaeological site and other tourism attractions along the Caracol Road, as well as increase economic growth by reducing transport costs for agricultural and timber production, through the upgrading of the Caracol Road (Phase II), approves and confirms that the Government of Belize may enter into a Loan Agreement with the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) 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.
(Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration Services and Refugees) 