Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697648711792.pdf (Belize)
BELIZE No.

4/1/13 !

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SENATE Friday, 11th March 2016 10:05 A.M. !

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Pursuant to the direction of Mr. President, in writing, dated 8th March 2016, the Senate met in the National Assembly Chamber in Belmopan on Friday, 11th March 2016, at 10:05 A.M. !

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Members Present: Senator, the Honourable Lee Mark Chang – President Senator, the Honourable Godwin Hulse – Leader of Government Business and Minister of Natural Resources and Immigration Senator, the Honourable Dr. Carla Barnett – Vice-President Senator, the Honourable Francine Burns Senator, the Honourable Macario Coy Sr.
Senator, the Honourable Stephen Duncan Senator, the Honourable Aldo Salazar Senator, the Honourable Valerie Woods Senator, the Honourable Paul Thompson Senator, the Honourable Marcello Blake – Temporary Senator, the Honourable Rev.

Ashley Rocke Senator, the Honourable Elena Smith Member Absent: !

Senator, the Honourable Eamon Courtenay (Designate) !

MR. PRESIDENT in the Chair.

PRAYERS by Rev.

Ashley Rocke.


OATH OF ALLEGIANCE OF NEW SENATORS The Clerk administered the Oath, in accordance with section 65 of the Belize Constitution, to new Senators, the Honourable Valerie Woods and the Honourable Paul Thompson, and the temporary Senator, the Honourable Marcello Blake.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT !

Mr. President made the following announcement:- “Honourable Members, by letter dated 8th March 2016, Cabinet’s recommendation has been signified to the following: 1.

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Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Bill, 2016; Customs Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2016; !

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The OPEC Fund for International Development -US $11,780,000 – Construction of the Airport Link Road Project - Loan Motion, 2016.” !
BILLS BROUGHT FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Natural Resources and Immigration signified his willingness to take charge of the following Bills: 1.

Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Bill, 2016; 2.

Customs Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2016; and 3.

Extradition (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Natural Resources and Immigration moved that the Bills be taken through all their stages forthwith.
Question put and agreed to.

PAPER The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Natural Resources and Immigration:- 3/1/13 - International Business Companies (Fees) Regulations, 2016.

Paper was ordered to lie on the Table.

MOTIONS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OR SITTINGS OF THE SENATE The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Natural Resources 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.

Establishment of the National Assembly Staff Committee Motion, 2016. !

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The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Natural Resources and Immigration moved:- WHEREAS, section 3 (1) of the National Assembly Staff Act (No.
1 of 2000) establishes a National Assembly Staff Committee, consisting of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or in his absence the Deputy Speaker; three members of the House of Representatives; the President of the Senate and one member of the Senate nominated by the Senate; and one member of the staff of the National Assembly or one other person who is not a member of staff of the National Assembly nominated by the staff of the National Assembly; AND WHEREAS, section 3 (1) (c) of the National Assembly Staff Act (No.
1 of 2000) provides that the President of the Senate and one other member of the Senate nominated by the Senate; !

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Senate nominate the Honourable Senator Francine Burns to be a member of the National Assembly Staff Committee.

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

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The OPEC Fund for International Development -US $11,780,000 – Construction of the Airport Link Road Project - Loan Motion, 2016.

The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Natural Resources and Immigration moved:- !

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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 socio-economic integration of the Western Paradise and Ladyville communities by constructing a road from Mile 8 of the George Price Highway to the Phillip Goldson International Airport, which will involve costs in civil works, land acquisition, consultancy services and supervision; AND WHEREAS, the Government of Belize has requested assistance from OFID in the sum of US$11.78 million for partial financing of the Project; AND WHEREAS, the OFID has approved an offer of a Loan of US$11,780,000.00 to the Government of Belize to finance 87% of the total costs of the civil works component of the Project; !
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4 AND WHEREAS, the approved financing will be used towards the general mobilization and site preparation, earth works, construction of embankments and pavement, construction of roundabouts and intersections on both ends of the road, construction of a bridge; installation of necessary drainage infrastructure along the road and bridge, and the installation of utilities structures, street lighting and other protection and safety works; !
AND WHEREAS, the terms and conditions of the Loan Offer are as follows: !

Lender: T h e O P E C F u n d f o r International Development (OFID); Loan Principal Amount: US$11,780,000.00; !

Loan Term: 20 years (5 years grace p e r i o d p l u s 1 5 y e a r s repayment period); Grace Period: 5 years from the Date of the Loan Agreement; Repayment period: !
Purpose: Repayment in thirty (30) semi-annual installments commencing January 15, 2021; To construct a road from Mile 8 of the George Price Highway to the Phillip G o l d s o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l Airport; Rate of Interest: At a rate of 2.75 percent per annum on the principal a m o u n t w i t h d r a w n a n d outstanding and payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 in each year; Service Charge: At a rate of one percent (1.0%) per annum on the principal amount of the Loan withdrawn and outstanding payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 in each year; !
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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; !

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5 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House, being satisfied that the loan proceeds would significantly contribute towards the improvement of the regional road network and the socio-economic integration of the Ladyville and Western Paradise Communities, 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.
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After the debate thereon, question put and agreed to.

II BILLS FOR SECOND READING Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Natural Resources and Immigration moved that the above-mentioned Bill be read a second time: Bill for an Act to amend the Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) Act, No 18 of 2008, to provide for measures to ensure compliance with international standards and obligations in relation to money laundering and terrorist financing and implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
After the debate thereon, question put and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a second time and, pursuant to Standing Orders, was committed to a Committee of the whole Senate.

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Customs Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2016. !
The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Natural Resources and Immigration moved that the above-mentioned Bill be read a second time: Bill for an Act to amend the Customs Regulation Act, Chapter 49 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to provide for measures to ensure compliance with international standards and obligations in relation to money laundering and terrorist financing; to raise the threshold for currency declarations to $20,000; to simplify procedures for currency declarations; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
After the debate thereon, question put and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a second time and, pursuant to Standing Orders, was committed to a Committee of the whole Senate.

Extradition (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

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6 The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Natural Resources and Immigration moved that the above-mentioned Bill be read a second time: Bill for an Act to amend the Extradition Act, Chapter 112 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to make provision for the extradition of fugitive criminals between Belize and the United Mexican States; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Question put and agreed to.


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 MOTION 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 Motion referred to it and, thereafter, in accordance with Standing Order 54, into the Committee of the whole Senate to examine and consider the Bills that were read a second time.

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

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Establishment of the National Assembly Staff Committee Motion, 2016.

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.

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Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Bill, 2016. !

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Clauses 1 to 30 agreed to.

Bill to be reported back to the Senate without amendment.

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Customs Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

Clauses 1 to 19 agreed to.


Schedule agreed to.

Bill to be reported back to the Senate without amendment.

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Extradition (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

Clauses 1 to 7 agreed to.

Schedule agreed to.

Bill to be reported back to the Senate without amendment.

PUBLIC BUSINESS A.

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IV MOTION (Adoption of Motion) !

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Establishment of the National Assembly Staff Committee Motion, 2016.
The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Natural Resources 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 BILLS 1.

Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Natural Resources 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.

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Customs Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2016.


The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Natural Resources 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.

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8 Bill read a third time.

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Extradition (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Natural Resources 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 Senate adjourned at 11:07 A.M. to a date to be fixed by the President.

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