The Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño, met remotely in regular session on Monday, January 4, 2021.
• Cabinet approved the introduction of legislation at the next sitting of the House of Representatives, scheduled for Friday, January 8, 2021, to empower the Central Bank of Belize to provide for emergency programs and facilities to assist during unusual and necessary economic circumstances.
• Cabinet discussed and approved a request by Hon. Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, to review all short-term logging licenses issued on national land for the logging season October 2020 to July 2021.
• Cabinet approved the formation of an inter-ministerial committee to review the Misuse of Drugs Legislation to recommend amendments to facilitate the proper development of the hemp industry and to establish a national hemp policy as well as monitoring mechanisms. The committee will include Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise; Hon. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries; and Hon. Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management.
• Cabinet approved the introduction of a General Revenue (Supplementary Appropriations) Bill to cover urgent and unforeseen expenditure for the period after November 11, 2020 to March 31, 2021.
• Cabinet approved the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the National Forensic Science Services (NFSS) and the Central American Health Sciences University in order to formalize a working relationship between the two entities. This will ensure that the forensic post-mortem examinations for medicolegal death investigations can continue in a manner that is aligned with the strategic priorities of the NFSS. Additionally, the Coroner’s Act will be repealed and replaced by modern legislation.
• The Prime Minister informed Cabinet that a state funeral will be held in honour of Dr. Dame Elmira Minita Gordon, Belize’s First Governor General.
