Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694865584100.pdf (Belize)
BELIZE No.26/1/14 SENATE Monday, 5th June 2023 9:00 A.M. ---*--- ORDERS OF THE DAY 1.

2.

Prayers.

Oath of Allegiance of a new Senator.

3.

Announcement by the President.

4.

Bills brought from the House of Representatives.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

Public Sector Emoluments and Allowances Reduction (Amendment) Bill, 2023. Credit Unions (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

Central Bank of Belize (Amendment) Bill, 2023.


Domestic Banks and Financial Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2023. International Banking (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

Moneylenders (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

National Payment System (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

Lotteries Control (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

Law Revision (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

Special Prosecutor Bill, 2023.


(Leader of Government Business and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration) 6.

Papers.

No.

40/1/14 - Belize Constitution (Public Service Emoluments and Allowances) (Reduction) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023.

No.

41/1/14 - Social Security (Collection of Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations, 2003.

No.

42/1/14 - Social Security (Financial and Accounting) (Amendment) Regulations, 2003.

No.
No.

43/1/14 - Social Security (Non-Contributory Pension for Women 65 Years or Over) (Amendment) Regulations, 2008.

No.

44/1/14 - Social Security (Financial and Accounting) (Amendment) Regulations, 2009.

No.

45/1/14 - Social Security (Non-Contributory Pension for Persons 65 Years or Over) (Amendment) Regulations, 2009.

2 No.

46/1/14 - Social Security (Benefit) (Amendment) Regulations, 2011.

No.

47/1/14 - Social Security (Benefit) (Amendment) Regulations, 2016.

No.
No.

48/1/14 - Social Security (Financial and Accounting) (Amendment) Regulations, 2019.

No.

49/1/14 - Social Security (Benefit) (Amendment) Regulations, 2019.

No.

50/1/14 - Social Security (Non-Contributory Pension for Persons 65 Years or Over) (Amendment) Regulations, 2019.

No.

51/1/14 - Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations, 2019.

No.

52/1/14 - Social Security (Registration of Employers and Employed Persons) (Amendment) Regulations, 2019.

No.
No.

53/1/14 - Social Security (Benefit) (Amendment) (No.

2) Regulations, 2019.

No.

54/1/14 - Social Security (Collection of Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations, 2019.

No.

55/1/14 - Social Security (Registration of Employers and Employed Persons) (Amendment) (No.

2) Regulations, 2019.

No.

56/1/14 - Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) (No.

2) Regulations, 2019.

No.

57/1/14 - Social Security (Benefit) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020.

No.
No.

58/1/14 - Social Security (Collection of Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020.

No.

59/1/14 - Senate (Amendment) Standing Orders, 2023.

No.

60/1/14 - Sugar Regulations, 2023.

Industry (Licence to Import/Export Sugar) No.

61/1/14 - Belize Port Authority (Tariff) (Amendment) Regulations, 2004.

No.

62/1/14 - Belize Port Authority (Tariff) (Amendment) Regulations, 2008.

No.

63/1/14 - Belize Port Authority (Verified Gross Mass) Regulations, 2016.

No.
No.

64/1/14 - Belize Port Authority (Tariff) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020.

No.

65/1/14 - Belize Port Authority (Pilotage) Regulations, 2023.

(Leader of Government Business and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration) 13.

Motions relating to the Business or Sittings of the Senate.

14.

Public Business.

3 A.

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

2.

3.

4.

5.
2.

3.

4.

5.

Development Finance Corporation Loan Facility from the Social Security Board to Provide Financing Primarily for the on-going Mortgage Finance Program-BZE$20 Million Loan Motion, 2023.

Saudi Fund for Development Tertiary Level Hospital Project in Belmopan 168,750,000 Saudi Riyals Loan Motion, 2023.

Motion for the Establishment of the Women’s Parliamentarian Caucus Standing Committee, 2023.
Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance by Belize of the Protocol Amending the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies Motion, 2023.

Resolution Authorizing the Accession to the Minamata Convention on Mercury Motion, 2023.

(Leader of Government Business and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration) II BILL FOR SECOND READING 1.

Extradition Bill, 2023.


Bill for an Act to repeal and replace the Extradition Act, Chapter 112 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020; to simplify and expedite the procedure for extraditions; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(Leader of Government Business and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration) III COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE SENATE ON BILLS AND MOTIONS IV BILLS FOR THIRD READING  4 BELIZE No.26/1/14 SENATE Monday, 5th June 2023 9:00 A.M. ---*--- NOTICES OF QUESTIONS AND MOTIONS M O T I O N S 1.

Development Finance Corporation Loan Facility from the Social Security Board to Provide Financing Primarily for the on-going Mortgage Finance Program-BZE$20 Million Loan Motion, 2023.
WHEREAS, section 15(1) of the Development Finance Corporation Act, Chapter 279, Revised Edition.
2020, provides that the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) may, with the approval of the Minister of Finance, and subject to the principles of sound fiscal management, borrow sums domestically or internationally, for meeting any of its obligations or discharging any of its functions; AND WHEREAS, subsection (4) of Section 15 of the DFC (Amendment) Act, 2022, further provides that any agreement, contract, or other instrument effecting any borrowing or loan to the DFC, of or above the equivalent of five million dollars, shall only be validly entered into pursuant to a resolution of the National Assembly authorizing the DFC to raise the loan or to borrow the money; AND WHEREAS, the DFC approached the Social Security Board (SSB) for a loan facility to provide financing for its on-going Mortgage Finance Program, that includes residential expansion and improvement, real estate development, infrastructure, and refinancing loan opportunities for Belizeans; AND WHEREAS, the SSB Board of Directors on 6th June 2022, approved a financing facility to the DFC totaling BZE$20,000,000 for the said purpose, under the following terms and conditions: Loan Principal Amount: BZE$20,000,000; Disbursement Schedule: Funds will be disbursed in four (4) tranches, of $5 million each, over two (2) years; Purpose: Loan Term: Rate of Interest: To provide financing for DFC’s Mortgage Finance Program; Twenty-five (25) years with two (2) years grace period on principal payment; Interest shall be paid at rate to be agreed not to exceed four and one half (4.5%) percent per annum on outstanding principal loan balance and payable quarterly on any disbursed sum from the date of first disbursement; 5 Repayment: Principal and interest are to be repaid quarterly after full disbursement of loan funds.
Full disbursement of the loan will be within two (2) years from the date of first disbursement; Commitment Fee: One (1%) percent payable by DFC on any undrawn portion of the line of credit, to be paid annually; Other Fees: The Facility will be subject to a one-time loan application fee of $6,000 which is payable before the first disbursement; A lending fee of 0.75% is due on the approved loan facility and payable on the disbursed tranches; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House, being satisfied that the Loan proceeds would significantly assist the Development Finance Corporation to meet the growing demands for its on-going Mortgage Finance Program, and aid the Government’s ongoing efforts to improve the living conditions and lives of the Belizean people, approves and confirms that the Development Finance Corporation may enter into a Loan Agreement with the Social Security Board on the terms and conditions set out above, and further authorizes the Corporation, through its Board of Directors, to execute and deliver the said Loan Agreement and all other documents associated therewith.
2.

Saudi Fund for Development Tertiary Level Hospital Project in Belmopan 168,750,000 Saudi Riyals Loan Motion, 2023.
WHEREAS, the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) (hereinafter referred to as “the Saudi Fund”) is a government organization that provides soft loans and grants to finance development projects and programs in developing countries; AND WHEREAS, the Government of Belize has requested assistance from the Saudi Fund for the financing of a Tertiary Level Hospital Project in Belmopan (hereinafter referred to as “the Project”); AND WHEREAS, the purpose of the Loan is to assist the Government of Belize in financing the construction of a tertiary-level hospital on the Belmopan Campus of the University of Belize which would also serve as a university hospital for medical education; AND WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Saudi Fund for Development has recently approved a Loan to the Government of Belize in the amount of One Hundred sixty- eight million seven hundred and fifty thousand (168,750,000) Saudi Riyals, (equivalent to approximately US$45 Million), to the Government of Belize to assist in the financing of the Project; AND WHEREAS, the terms and conditions of the Saudi Fund Loan Offer are as follows: Lender: The Saudi Fund for Development; Loan Principal Amount: One Hundred sixty-eight million seven hundred and fifty thousand Saudi Riyals (or approximately US$45 million) ; Loan Term: Grace Period: Twenty (20) years (5 years grace period plus 15 years repayment period); Five (5) years from the effective date of the Loan Agreement; Rate of Interest: Fixed interest rate of Two percent (2.0%) per annum; 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 assist the Government of Belize to finance a tertiary hospital in the Belmopan Area, approves and confirms that the Government of Belize may enter into a Loan Agreement with the Saudi Fund for Development 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.
6 3.

Motion for the Establishment of the Women’s Parliamentarian Caucus Standing Committee, 2023.
WHEREAS, Standing Order 71 (4) of the Senate Standing Orders provides that a Joint Select Committee may be appointed at the request of either House with the approval of the other House; AND WHEREAS, Standing Order 65 of the Senate Standing Orders provides that the Senate may refer matters relating to Standing Orders to the Standing Orders Committee for consideration and report; AND WHEREAS, Standing Order 82 (1) of the Senate Standing Orders requires that notice of a motion to amend the Standing Orders be given and accompanied by a draft of the proposed amendments; AND WHEREAS, the need for a collaborative forum for all women parliamentarians of Belize, notwithstanding party affiliation or the chamber in which they serve, has been identified; AND WHEREAS, such forum may facilitate networking, foster productive dialogue on issues of women’s rights and gender equality, and promote the undertaking of actions to positively impact the inclusiveness of the legislature, legislative process and the country as a whole; AND WHEREAS, there has been a consensus among the women parliamentarians that this forum be established as a Bicameral Caucus of Women Parliamentarians; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House recommends that the Senate Standing Orders be amended to allow for such caucus to be established as a Joint Select Committee, in accordance with Standing Order 71 of the Senate, to sit jointly with a similarly comprised Committee from the House of Representatives; AND BE IT RESOLVED that this motion be referred to the Standing Orders Committee of the Senate for consideration and report.
4.

Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance by Belize of the Protocol Amending the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies Motion, 2023.
WHEREAS, the Protocol Amending the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (hereinafter referred to as “the Agreement”) was adopted in Geneva on 17th June 2022, by the 12th Ministerial Conference; AND WHEREAS, the objective of the Agreement seeks to discipline harmful fisheries subsidies by prohibiting subsidies to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, to fishing on overfished stocks, and to fishing on the unregulated high seas to promote sustainable marine fisheries.
The Agreement also seeks to prohibit members from granting or maintaining subsidies for fishing or fishing-related activities in areas of the high seas that are outside the competence of a Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMO) and commit members to exercise special care and restraint when granting 7 subsidies to vessels not flying that member’s flags and exercise restraint when considering subsidies for fish stocks whose status is unknown; AND WHEREAS, the Government of Belize is desirous of accepting the Protocol Amending the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies pursuant to paragraph 3 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 of any treaty by the Government of Belize; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Senate authorizes the Government of Belize to accept the Protocol Amending the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, and all other documents associated therewith.

5.

Resolution Authorizing the Accession to the Minamata Convention on Mercury Motion, 2023.
WHEREAS, the Minamata Convention on Mercury (hereinafter called “the Mercury Convention’) was adopted on 10th October 2013, and entered into force on 16th August 2017; the Multilateral Environmental Agreement, AND WHEREAS, the objective of the Mercury Convention is to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compound through inter alia: a ban on new mercury mines, the phase-out of existing ones, the phase-out and phase-down of mercury use in a number of products and processes, control measures on emissions to air and on releases to land and water, and the regulation of the informal sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
The Mercury Convention also addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury, and health issues; AND WHEREAS, the Government of Belize is desirous of acceding to the Convention pursuant to its Article 30; 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 accession to any treaty by the Government of Belize; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Senate authorizes the Government of Belize to accede to the Mercury Convention, a full text of which is hereto annexed.

(Leader of Government Business and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration) *****