House of Representatives

At the last sitting of the House of Representatives on Friday, October 17th, the Minister of Health and Wellness (MOHW), Honourable Kevin Bernard, introduced an ambitious Tobacco Control Bill. The legislation aims to reduce the risk of illness and death caused by smoking while preventing children from using tobacco products. The bill also seeks to align Belize’s national policies with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

eptember 23, 2025 The Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour, and Local Government announces that Belize has fulfilled its obligation under Article 19 of the Constitution of the International Labour Organization (ILO). This was achieved through the submission of International Labour Standards, adopted by the International Labour Conference during the period 1990 to 2025, to the National Assembly.

During a recent sitting of the House of Representatives in Belmopan, several bills were introduced, including the first-ever Climate Change and Carbon Market Initiatives Bill, 2025. The legislation was presented by the Honorable Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change. According to him, the bill sets a legal and constitutional foundation and establishes structures to protect the country’s land, waters, and people.

The National Assembly of Belize concluded its three-day debate on the 2025–2026 national budget on Wednesday, May 28, following sessions at the George Price Center in Belmopan. The discussion centered on the country’s economic progress, fiscal plans, and political differences shaping the government's development strategy for the upcoming fiscal year. The debate began on Monday, May 26, with several members of the House of Representatives addressing national priorities, including economic recovery, infrastructure development, healthcare, education, and public service delivery.

The United Democratic Party (UDP) is continuing efforts to move forward amidst internal challenges. The party, which currently holds five seats in the House of Representatives, recently saw the official swearing-in of the Honorable Tracy Panton as the first female Leader of the Opposition. However, according to Panton, the UDP remains without a clear leader following the loss of former party leader Shyne Barrow’s Mesopotamia seat in the March 12th general election. A national convention to elect a new leader is expected but has not yet been scheduled.

On Tuesday, March 26th, the Senate debated the General Revenue and Appropriation Bill, also known as the fiscal budget for 2024-2025. However, the debate was not robust because members of the Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) were absent. The proposed fiscal year budget of BZ$1.5 billion was previously debated and passed after a three-day debate in the House of Representatives on Friday, March 22nd.

On Friday, March 8th, Prime Minister Honourable Dr. John Briceño presented the 2024-2025 fiscal budget under the theme ‘Staying on Track’. The budget prioritizes job creation, economic stimulus, support for the producing sector, and expansion in access to education. During the budget presentation at the House of Representatives in the Capital City of Belmopan, the Prime Minister also mentioned plans to expand the coverage of the National Health Insurance Programme across the country. During his address, he also cited global factors as the cause of the high cost of living in the country.

During the recent sitting of the House of Representatives in the Capital City of Belmopan, the government introduced the 11th Amendment, which seeks to elevate the standard of members in the National Assembly. One feature of the bill is raising concerns with the Opposition in that it seeks to disqualify anyone from being an elected government member if convicted of a major crime and sentenced to over a year in Belize or the Commonwealth. Honorable Dr. Shyne Barrow, the Leader of the Opposition, was incarcerated in the United States for almost a decade and took this as a personal attack. The government, however, explained that it was not about Barrow’s situation but an attempt to set higher standards.