Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697647353521.pdf (Belize)
BELIZE No.

HR5/1/13 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Thursday, 22nd April 2021 9:00 AM.

-*- -*- -*- ORDERS OF THE DAY 1.

3.

6.

Prayers.

Announcements by the Speaker.

Paper.

No.

HR14/1/13 - City and Town Councils Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2021/2022.

(The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment) 7.

Presentation of Reports from Select Committees.

No.
No.

HR15/1/13 - Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Caribbean Development Bank – Philip Goldson Highway and Remate Bypass Upgrading Project (US$34, 300,000.00) Loan Motion, 2021.

No.
No.

HR16/1/13 - Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on Inter- American Development Bank - Program to Support the Health Sector to Contain and Control Coronavirus and to Mitigate its effect on Service Provision (US$5.0 Million) Loan Motion, 2021. the (The Honourable Chairman of the Finance and Economic Development Committee) No.

HR17/1/13 - Report from the Health and Human Development Committee on the Public Health (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2021.
(The Honourable Chairman of the Health and Human Development Committee) No.

HR18/1/13 - Report from the Constitution and Foreign 2 Affairs Committee on the Supreme Court of Judicature (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

No.

HR19/1/13 - Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee on the Court of Appeal (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

No.

HR20/1/13 - Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee on the Court of Appeal Decisions (Validation) Bill, 2021.

No.
No.

HR21/1/13 - Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee on the Time Limit for Judicial Decisions Bill, 2021.

No.

HR22/1/13 - Report from the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee on the Belize Constitution (Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2021.

(The Honourable Chairman of the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee) No.

HR23/1/13 - Report from the Natural Resources and the Land Environment Committee on Utilization (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
(The Honourable Chairman of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee) No.

HR24/1/13 - Report from the Ombudsman Reports Committee on The Twentieth Annual Report of the Ombudsman of Belize for the Year Ending 2020.

(The Honourable Chairman of the Ombudsman Reports Committee) 13.

Motions relating to the Business or Sittings of the House.

14.

Public Business.

A.

Government Business [Resumption of the Debate on the General Revenue Appropriation (2021/2022) Bill, 2021] 1.
General Revenue Appropriation (2021/2022) Bill, 2021.

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, 2022.

(The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment) I COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY 1.

Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 3 Fiscal Year 2021/2022.

(Sessional Paper No.

HR9/1/13 was presented on 9.04.21.)

2.

Official Charities Fund Motion, 2021.


(referred 9.04.21) (The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment) II MOTIONS (For Text of Motions see Notice Paper attached) 1.

Official Charities Fund Motion, 2021.

(referred 9.04.21) 2.

3.

Adoption of the Report from the Ombudsman Reports Committee on The Twentieth Annual Report of the Ombudsman of Belize for the Year Ending 2020.
(referred 9.04.21) Caribbean Development Bank – Philip Goldson Highway and Remate Bypass Upgrading Project (US$34, 300,000.00) Loan Motion, 2021.

(referred 9.04.21) 4.

Inter-American Development Bank - Program to Support the Health Sector to Contain and Control Coronavirus and to Mitigate its effect on Service Provision (US$5.0 Million) Loan Motion, 2021.

(referred 9.04.21) (The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment) III BILLS FOR SECOND READING 1.
Land Utilization (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to amend the Land Utilization Act, Chapter 188 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to strengthen the membership of the Land Subdivision and Utilization Authority; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(The Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining) 2.

Supreme Court of Judicature (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
4 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 for civil proceedings to be continued and determined by another judge if the judge before whom the proceedings took place has demitted office, is removed from office, retires from office or dies; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

3.

Court of Appeal (Amendment) Bill, 2021.


Bill for an Act to amend the Court of Appeal Act, Chapter 90 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to allow for civil appeals to be continued and determined by another judge or the remaining panel of judges if a judge before whom the proceedings took place has demitted office, is removed from office, retires from office or dies; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

4.
4.

Court of Appeal Decisions (Validation) Bill, 2021.

Bill for an Act to validate the decisions of the Court of Appeal in instances where a judge has died or vacated office; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

5.

Time Limit for Judicial Decisions Bill, 2021.


Bill for an Act to specify a time limit in accordance with sections 98 and 102 of the Belize Constitution within which a judge shall give a decision in a civil case and any appeal case; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

6.

Belize Constitution (Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2021.


Bill for an Act to amend the Belize Constitution, Chapter 4 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, to provide for additional grounds for the removal of a judge; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(The Honourable Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Technology) 7.

Public Health (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2021.


Bill for an Act to amend the Public Health Act, Chapter 40 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to provide for the control and regulation of vaccines; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(The Honourable Minister of Health and Wellness) IV COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON BILLS V BILLS FOR THIRD READING 5 BELIZE No.

HR5/1/13 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Thursday, 22nd April 2021 9:00 AM.
-*- -*- -*- NOTICES OF QUESTIONS AND MOTIONS M O T I O N S 1.

Official Charities Fund Motion, 2021.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Honourable House approves the expenditure of $2,385,089 from the Official Charities Fund as detailed in Appendix A of the Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year ending 31st March 2022.

(referred 9.04.21) 2.

Adoption of the Report from the Ombudsman Reports Committee on The Twentieth Annual Report of the Ombudsman of Belize for the Year Ending 2020.
(referred 9.04.21) BE IT RESOLVED THAT THIS HOUSE adopts the Report from the Ombudsman Reports Committee on The Twentieth Annual Report of the Ombudsman of Belize for the Year Ending 2020.

3.

Caribbean Development Bank – Philip Goldson Highway and Remate Bypass Upgrading Project (US$34, 300,000.00) Loan Motion, 2021.
(referred 9.04.21) WHEREAS, section 3(1) of the Loans (Caribbean Development Bank) Act, Chapter 74 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 20011, provides that subject to such conditions as may be agreed between the Government and the Caribbean Development Bank (“the Bank”), the Government may borrow from the Bank from time to time such sums as may be required by the Government; AND WHEREAS, section 3(2) of the said Act further provides that no agreement in respect of sums borrowed under the powers conferred by section 3(1) 6 shall be executed unless the terms and conditions thereof have been first approved by a Resolution of the House of Representatives to that effect; AND WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Bank has recently approved a Loan to the Government of Belize in the sum of US$34,300,000; AND WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Bank has recently approved a Grant to the Government of Belize of an amount not exceeding the equivalent of US$18,675,450 from CDB, acting as Administrator of the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (CIF) Grant, to assist in financing the Project; AND WHEREAS, the purpose of the Loan is to provide assistance in financing major road rehabilitation and upgrade work to approximately 125km of roadway of the Philip Goldson Highway and the Remate Bypass.
And whereas this Road Upgrading Project consist of the following components: (i) Project Preparation Assistance including a consultancy for the preparation of a feasibility study and detailed designs, undertaken with grant funding from UKCIF; (ii) Land Acquisition (ongoing) of approximately 6.9 hectares of land by Government for road realignment and widening; (iii) Major and minor works for road rehabilitation and upgrade work to approximately 125 km of roadway to be undertaken in four lots; (iv) Engineering and Construction Related Services for the construction supervision of major works and for the design and construction supervision of minor works associated with the creation of safe school zones; (v) Other Project Support Services targeting the communities along the project corridor; (vi) Project Management including the current Project Execution Unit (PEU), additional personnel/consultants to supplement the PEU, two project management vehicles, and Furniture and equipment for the PEU; AND WHEREAS, the expected outcomes of the Project are: increased safety, accessibility, efficiency, and resilience of PGH Miles 24.5 to 92, and the Remate Bypass; and improved capacity for informed decision making for livelihood enhancement along PGH and the Remate Bypass; AND WHEREAS, the entire Project is estimated to cost some US$59.8 million including some US$8.8 million in Counterpart Financing; AND WHEREAS, the Bank has offered to lend to the Government the sum of US$34,300,000 (“the Loan”) to finance the Project on the following terms and conditions: Ordinary Capital Resources Portion (a) (b) (c) US $21,300,000 Ordinary Capital Resources (OCR) – to be repaid in forty-eight (48) equal or approximately equal and consecutive quarterly installments commencing five (5) years after the date of the Loan Agreement; Interest at the rate of 3.75% (variable) per annum to be paid quarterly on the outstanding OCR portion of the loan; A Commitment Fee of 1% to be paid quarterly on the un-withdrawn portion of the loan from time to
 time, to accrue from the sixtieth (60th) day after the date of the Loan Agreement; Special Funds Resources Portion (a) US $13,000,000 Special Funds Resources (SFR) – to be repaid in eighty (80) equal or approximately equal and consecutive quarterly installments commencing five (5) years after the date of the Loan Agreement; 7 (b) Interest at the rate of 1% per annum to be paid quarterly on the outstanding SFR portion of the loan; The Loan shall be fully disbursed by December 31, 2024, or such later date as the Bank may specify in writing; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House, being satisfied that the Loan proceeds would significantly assist the Government of Belize in its endeavor to increase safety, accessibility, efficiency, and resilience of PGH Miles 24.5 to 92, and the Remate Bypass; and improve capacity for informed decision making for livelihood enhancement along PGH and the Remate Bypass, approves and confirms that the Government may enter into a Loan Agreement with the Caribbean Development Bank on the terms and conditions set out above, and further authorises the Minister of Finance to execute and deliver the said Agreement and all other documents associated therewith.
4.

Inter-American Development Bank - Program to Support the Health Sector to Contain and Control Coronavirus and to Mitigate its effect on Service Provision (US$5.0 Million) Loan Motion, 2021.
(referred 9.04.21) WHEREAS, Belize, as a member of the Inter-American Development Bank (the “Bank”), 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 approached the Bank for financial assistance for a program to contribute to the reduction of the morbidity and mortality in Belize caused by COVID-19, and to mitigate other indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; AND WHEREAS, the Program will consist of two components, as follows: (1) (2) Ensuring timely vaccine availability by increasing and facilitating access to vaccines: this component will finance, through the issuance of a sovereign credit guarantee, the purchase of 238,800 Covid-19 vaccine doses under the signed commitment agreement with the GAVI Alliance through the Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility; and Facilitating vaccine accessibility: this component will finance investments for the National Covid-19 Vaccine Deployment Plan, involving activities to strengthen logistics of conservation (storage and cold chain management), distribution and deployment of vaccines, purchasing of required inputs to ensure vaccine delivery to health service sites and vaccine administration; and preparing and implementing a communication campaign regarding COVID-19 and the vaccination effort in Belize; AND WHEREAS, the proposed program will be financed through an IDB direct investment loan to the Government of Belize in the sum of US$2,862,740 and an IDB sovereign guarantee issued on behalf of the Government of Belize in the sum of US$2,137,260; AND WHEREAS, any claim to the sovereign guarantee and payment of said claim by the IDB could be reimbursed by the Government of Belize to the IDB for up to the remaining approved period of the sovereign guarantee, with repayment terms 8 similar to that of an IDB investment loan, bringing the total loan facility to US$5,000,000;
 AND WHEREAS, the execution of the program shall be carried out by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, acting as the Executing Agency; AND WHEREAS, the Bank has offered financing of up to US$5,000,000 from its Ordinary Capital Resources for the said Program, under the following terms and conditions: Loan Principal Amount: Disbursement Schedule: Loan Term: Repayment Period: Purpose: Rate of Interest: Credit Fee: Guarantee Fee: (Comprised of US$5,000,000 the flexible US$2,862,740 under financing facility and US$2,137,260 under the flexible credit guarantee instrument); Over a period of three (3) years from the effective date of the Loan Contract for the Investment Loan and one (1) year from the effective date of the Sovereign Guarantee Contract; Twenty five (25) Years inclusive of a sixty six (66) month grace period; To be repaid in 39, approximately equal, semi-annual and consecutive installments of about US$128,205.13; To support the participation of Belize in to the COVAX mechanism facilitate Belize’s access to safe and effective doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and the logistics, supply chain management, and application for and of the vaccine; to strengthen Interest will be charged, on the daily outstanding balance of the investment loan, as per the LIBOR-Based Interest Rate, plus the applicable lending spread for the Bank’s ordinary capital loans; A Credit Fee will be charged on the undisbursed balance of the investment loan, at a percentage to be established by the Bank, on a periodic basis, not exceeding 0.75% per annum; A Guarantee fee will be charged on the Callable Guarantee amount using the variable lending spread applicable to sovereign guaranteed loans; Stand By Fee: A Stand By Fee will be charged on the 9 Non-Callable Guarantee amount, at a percentage to be established by the Bank, on a periodic basis, not exceeding 0.75% per annum; AND WHEREAS, under the provisions of section 7 (2) of the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act, 2005, the Government of Belize
 is required to obtain the prior authorisation 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 assist the Government of Belize in its continued efforts to interrupt the transmission chain of COVID-19 in the country and fight the pandemic, approve and confirm that the Government may enter into a Loan Contract and a Sovereign Counter-Guarantee Agreement with the Inter- American Development Bank on the terms and conditions set out above, and further authorise the Minister of Finance to execute and deliver the said Contracts and all other documents associated therewith.
(Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment) 