Parliament in Action: Highlights from the Sitting of the House of Representatives: Friday, 2nd October 2026

On Friday, 2nd October 2026, the House of Representatives convened in the National Assembly Chamber in Belmopan. The Sitting commenced at 10:22 A.M and opened with prayers led by Pastor Richard Shaw, followed by announcements from Speaker Valerie Woods, who presided over the meeting. Notice of absence was received from the Member for Belize Rural North, Belize Rural South, Orange Walk East, Stann Creek West and Corozal North.

VACANCIES IN STANDING COMMITTEES

The Presiding Officer informed the House of vacancies in the membership of the Public Utilities, Transport and Communications Committee; the Health and Human Development Committee; and the Public Service, Labour, Industry and Trade Committee.

Pursuant to Standing Order 73, the Sitting was suspended to enable the Committee of Selection to consider and report to the House on the appointment of Members to fill the vacancies. Upon resumption, the following Report was presented and ordered to lie on the Table:

• HR110A/1/14 – Report from the Committee of Selection on the Appointment of Members to fill vacancies in the Public Utilities, Transport and Communications Committee, the Health and Human Development Committee and the Public Service, Labour, Industry and Trade Committee.

The Adoption of the Report from the Committee of Selection Motion, 2026, was thereafter moved by the Member for Cayo Northeast. The question was put, and the Motion was adopted.

PAPERS

THIRTEEN (13) Sessional Papers were laid on the Table.

The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Investment, Economic Transformation, Civil Aviation, E-Governance, National Defence and Border Security presented:

1. HR111/1/14 – Central Bank of Belize – Revised Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2026;
2. HR112/1/14 – Final Report of the People’s Constitution Commission, 16 May 2025;
3. HR112A/1/14 – Belize Social Investment Fund – Financial Statements for the Years ended March 31, 2026, and 2025 and Independent Auditors’ Report;
4. HR112B/1/14 – Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan 2026–2036;
5. HR112C/1/14 – Fisheries Resources (High Protection for Biodiversity Marine Reserves) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026;
6. HR112D/1/14 – Fisheries Resources (High Protection for Biodiversity Marine Reserves) (Amendment) Order, 2026;
7. HR112E/1/14 – Fisheries Resources (Lighthouse Reef Atoll Marine Reserve) Order, 2026;
8. HR112F/1/14 – Fisheries Resources (Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026;
9. HR112G/1/14 – Fisheries Resources (Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve) (Amendment) Order, 2026;
10. HR112H/1/14 – Fisheries Resources (Marine Reserves and Fishery Areas Dredging Prohibition) Regulations, 2026;
11. HR112I/1/14 – Fisheries Resources (Flat Fishing Priority Fishery Area) Order, 2026; and
12. HR112J/1/14 – Fisheries Resources (Flat Fishing Priority Fishery Area) Regulations, 2026.

The Honourable Member for Caribbean Shores on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Food Security & New Growth Industries presented:

13. HR113/1/14 – Supplies Control (Prices) (Amendment) (No. 26) Regulations, 2026.

PRESENTATION OF REPORTS FROM SELECT COMMITTEES

FIVE (5) Reports were presented by Chairpersons of Committees and were ordered to lie on the Table as follows:

1. HR114/1/14 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Credit Unions Bill, 2026;
2. HR115/1/14 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Commercial Loan from Export-Import Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) (US$100,000,000) – Loan Motion, 2026;
3. HR116/1/14 – Report from the Public Utilities, Transport and Communications Committee on the Resolution Consenting to the Grant of a Limited Concession to the National Bus Company of Belize to Operate Motor Omnibuses along the Western Corridor of Belize Motion, 2026;
4. HR117/1/14 – Report from the Public Utilities, Transport and Communications Committee on the Resolution Consenting to the Grant of an Exclusive Concession to the National Bus Company of Belize to Operate Motor Omnibuses along the Southern Corridor of Belize Motion, 2026; and
5. HR118/1/14 – Report from the Public Utilities, Transport and Communications Committee on the Public Transportation Investment Bill, 2026.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

FOUR (4) Bills were introduced and referred to their respective Committees for examination, consideration, and report:

1. Cybercrime (Amendment) Bill, 2026 – The Cybercrime (Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeks to amend the Cybercrime Act to clarify the scope of the offence under section 15(4), in a manner consistent with the constitutional protection of freedom of expression, by limiting the offence to specified unlawful and serious harmful purposes. It also seeks to provide that proceedings for offences under the Act may be instituted only by, or with the written consent of, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and to clarify the jurisdiction of the Courts of Belize under the Act. It was referred to the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee.

2. Immigration (Amendment) Bill, 2026 – The Immigration (Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeks to amend the Immigration Act to include the Labour Commissioner as a member of the Visa Vetting Committee; provide for the issuance of an investor residence permit; extend the categories of persons who qualify to apply for permanent residence; provide for the issuance of Temporary Employment Permits under the Seasonal Migrant Workers Program; and regulate the employment of migrant workers in specific industries. It was referred to the National Security and Immigration Committee.

3. Belizean Nationality (Amendment) Bill, 2026 – The Belizean Nationality (Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeks to amend the Belizean Nationality Act to exclude time spent in Belize under certain temporary permits from counting towards permanent residency, and to make holders of investor residency status eligible to apply for permanent residence. It was referred to the National Security and Immigration Committee.

4. Wildlife Conservation and Management Bill, 2026 – The Wildlife Conservation and Management Bill, 2026, seeks to repeal the Wildlife Protection Act and to provide, in accordance with international best practice, for the protection, conservation, restoration, sustainability, rational use, and wise management of wildlife in Belize, including the effective regulation, monitoring, and licensing of permitted activities relating to wildlife. It was referred to the Natural Resources and Environment Committee.

MOTIONS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OR SITTINGS OF THE HOUSE

The Prime Minister moved a motion that, at its rising, the House adjourn to a date to be fixed by the Speaker. The question was put, and the motion was approved.

PUBLIC BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT BUSINESS – MOTIONS

FOUR (4) Motions were considered by the House:

Motion Approving the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan as the Marine Spatial Plan for Belize and Statutory Instruments to Secure Biodiversity Protection Zones Covering Thirty Percent of the Ocean of Belize, 2026

This Motion sought the approval of the House for the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan 2026–2036 as the national framework for marine spatial planning, management, conservation, and sustainable use of Belize’s ocean and coastal areas, as required by section 27 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management Act (Act No. 21 of 2025), which makes the Plan subject to affirmative resolution. The Motion also sought approval of eight Statutory Instruments made under the Fisheries Resources Act, laid as Sessional Papers HR112C/1/14 to HR112J/1/14, to secure Biodiversity Protection Zones covering thirty percent of Belize’s ocean. These approvals give effect to the Government’s obligations under Milestone 6 of the Conservation Funding Agreement incorporated into the Blue Bonds Act (Act No. 28 of 2021). Following debate, the Motion was referred to the Finance and Economic Development Committee for examination, consideration, and report, and the House agreed, on a motion by the Prime Minister, that the Motion be taken through all its stages forthwith. In accordance with Standing Order 74, the Sitting was later suspended to enable the Committee to examine the Motion. Upon resumption, the following Report was presented and ordered to lie on the Table:

HR119/1/14 – Report from the Finance and Economic Development Committee on the Motion Approving the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan as the Marine Spatial Plan for Belize and Statutory Instruments to Secure Biodiversity Protection Zones Covering Thirty Percent of the Ocean of Belize, 2026.

The Motion was thereafter moved and agreed to.

Commercial Loan from Export-Import Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) (US$100,000,000) – Loan Motion, 2026

This Motion sought approval for Belize to enter into a US$100 million long-term concessionary loan agreement with the Export-Import Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The loan would support the Government’s overall annual financing requirements during the five-year cooperation framework for 2025 to 2029 established under the Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Cooperation signed on 2nd June 2025. The facility carries a twenty-year term, a three-year grace period, and an interest rate based on the six-month Term SOFR plus 1.2% per annum. Up to US$40 million may be disbursed by 31st December 2026, and up to US$20 million annually from 2027 until 2nd June 2029. Having been reported back by the Finance and Economic Development Committee, the Motion was moved and agreed to.

Resolution Consenting to the Grant of a Limited Concession to the National Bus Company of Belize to Operate Motor Omnibuses along the Western Corridor of Belize Motion, 2026

This Motion sought the consent of the House, under section 115 of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, for the grant of a limited concession to the National Bus Company of Belize to operate motor omnibus services along the Western Transport Service Area, comprising the highways connecting Benque Viejo del Carmen, San Ignacio, Santa Elena, Belmopan, and Belize City. Having been reported back by the Public Utilities, Transport and Communications Committee, the Motion was moved and agreed to.

Resolution Consenting to the Grant of an Exclusive Concession to the National Bus Company of Belize to Operate Motor Omnibuses along the Southern Corridor of Belize Motion, 2026

This Motion sought the consent of the House, under section 115 of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, for the grant of an exclusive concession to the National Bus Company of Belize to operate motor omnibus services along the Southern Transport Service Area, comprising the highways connecting Punta Gorda, Independence and Mango Creek, Dangriga, the Coastal Road to La Democracia, and Belmopan. Having been reported back by the Public Utilities, Transport and Communications Committee, the Motion was moved and agreed to.

BILLS FOR SECOND READING

TWO (2) Bills, after the debates, were read a second time:

1. Credit Unions Bill, 2026

This Bill seeks to provide for the continuance, registration, licensing, management, and supervision of credit unions.

2. Public Transportation Investment Bill, 2026

This Bill seeks to approve, ratify, and confirm the Government’s investment in the National Bus Company Ltd., including the transfer and vesting of certain public transport assets in the company, and to provide for proposed exemptions from taxes and duties.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON BILLS

Following the debates and second readings, the House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House, with the Honourable Devin Daly, Member for Collet, presiding, to consider the following Bills clause by clause:

1. Credit Unions Bill, 2026; and
2. Public Transportation Investment Bill, 2026.

The meeting of the Committee of the Whole House is held in camera.

REPORTING AND THIRD READING OF BILLS

Following the reporting from the Committee of the Whole House, TWO (2) Bills were read a third time and passed by the House:

1. Credit Unions Bill, 2026 (with amendments); and
2. Public Transportation Investment Bill, 2026 (without amendment).

ADJOURNMENT

On the motion for the adjournment, the House adjourned at 5:55 P.M to a date to be fixed by the Speaker.

STAY ENGAGED

Members of the public are encouraged to follow parliamentary proceedings and access Bills, motions, committee reports, sessional papers, and Hansards through the National Assembly’s official platforms.