House of Representatives

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.

Prime Minister Honourable Dr. John Briceño said during his Independence Day address on Wednesday, September 21, that the most anticipated increase in the minimum wage from $3.5 to $5 per hour would come into effect in January.

Speaker Valerie Woods, House of Representatives, attended the XXVI Extraordinary Meeting of the Forum of Speakers and Presidents of the Parliaments of Central America, the Caribbean Basin, and Mexico (FOPREL) in the city of Rabat, the Kingdom of Morocco from 19th to 21st May 2022.

On Thursday, March 24th, during the sitting of the House of Representatives, Deputy Prime Minister Honourable Cordel Hyde announced that as of July 1st, the minimum wage would increase from $3.30 to $5 per hour. Belizeans welcome this increase when the cost of living rises due to inflation caused by factors such as elevated fuel prices.

The women parliamentarians of the National Assembly convened a meeting earlier this week to discuss the establishment of the Belize Women Parliamentarians Caucus.