Finance and Economic Development Committee

The Finance and Economic Development Committee was re-established by a Statutory Instrument No. 115 of 1998. The said Committee has six Members. Two of the Members of the Finance and Economic Committee are Members who do not support the Government.

Subjects that are referred to the Finance and Economic Development Committee are matters dealing with taxation and fiscal matters; banking, currency and insurance; customs, excise, imports and exports; exchange control; salaries, pensions and provident funds; public debt and public loans; economic development; and any other matter assigned under the Constitution to the Minister responsible for Finance or to the Minister responsible for Budget Planning and Management and Economic Development in their capacity as such Ministers.

Public Utilities, Transport and Communications Committee

The Public Utilities, Transport and Communications Committee was re-established by a Statutory Instrument No. 115 of 1998. The said Committee has six Members. Two of the Members of the Public Utilities, Transport and Communications Committee are Members who do not support the Government.

Subjects that are referred to the Public Utilities, Transport and Communications Committee are matters relating to public utilities, transport, communications and any other matters assigned under the Constitution to the Minister responsible for Public Utilities, Transport and Communications.

Health and Human Development Committee, including Rural Development and Culture

The Health and Human Development Committee, including Rural Development and Culture, was re-established by a Statutory Instrument No. 115 of 1998. The said Committee has six Members. Two of the Members of the Health and Human Development Committee are Members who do not support the Government.

Subjects that are referred to the Health and Human Development Committee are matters assigned under the Constitution to the Minister responsible for Health and to the Minister responsible for Human Development, Women, Youth, Rural Development and Culture.

Education, Sports and Housing Committee

The Education, Sports and Housing Committee was re-established by a Statutory Instrument No. 115 of 1998. The said Committee has six Members. Two of the Members of the Education, Sports and Housing Committee are Members who do not support the Government.

Subjects that are referred to the Education, Sports and Housing Committee are matters assigned under the Constitution to the Minister responsible for Education and Sports and to the Minister responsible for Housing.

Constitution and Foreign Affairs, Privileges, Standing Orders, House and Regulations Committee

The Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee was re-established by a Statutory Instrument No. 115 of 1998. The said Committee has six Members. Two of the Members of the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee are Members who do not support the Government.

Subjects that are referred to the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee are matters relating to the Constitution; civil liabilities and administration of justice; legal affairs; relations of Belize with the Commonwealth countries and foreign countries; international conferences; and foreign representation. Other subjects that are referred to the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee are matters which appear to affect the powers or privileges of the House; Standing Orders of the House; Order of Business of the House; recesses and adjournments of the House; matters relating to the remuneration and allowances and the comfort and convenience of Members of the House; employment of officers and other persons by the House; and all such orders, rules, regulations and by-laws which are required by any law to be laid before the House.

The Committee shall bring to the attention of the House any order, rule, regulation or by-law, which involves the expenditure of public moneys or imposes or fixes fees for licences or for services; which cannot be challenged in the Courts on the ground that it is ultra vires, or is only temporarily so challengeable; the making of which appears to constitute an unusual or unexpected use of the powers conferred by the law under which it was made; which purports to have retroactive effect although the law under which it was made does not in terms give the Minister such a power; the publication or the laying before the House of which appears to have been unduly delayed; or the purport or form of which appears to require elucidation.

Works Committee

The Works Committee, which is a current Standing Committee of the House of Representatives, was constituted by Statutory Instrument No. 115 of 1998. The said Committee has six Members. Two of the Members of the Works Committee are Members who do not support the Government.

Subjects that are referred to the Works Committee are matters relating to Public works and all other matters assigned under the Constitution to the Minister responsible for Works.

Public Service, Labour, Industry and Trade Committee

The Public Service, Labour, Industry and Trade Committee was constituted by Statutory Instrument No. 115 of 1998. The said Committee has six Members. Two of the Members of the Public Service, Labour, Industry and Trade Committee are Members who do not support the Government.

Subjects that referred to the Public Service, Labour, Industry and Trade Committee are issues relating to Public Service, Labour matters, Trade, Industry and Commerce, Home affairs, Local Government and any other subjects assigned under the Constitution to the Minister responsible for Industry and Commerce, Public Service and Labour.

Natural Resources and the Environment Committee

The Natural Resources and the Environment Committee was constituted by Statutory Instrument No. 115 of 1998. The said Committee has six Members. Two of the Members of the Natural Resources and the Environment Committee are Members who do not support the Government.

Subjects that are referred to the Natural Resources and the Environment Committee are matters assigned under the Constitution to the Minister responsible for Natural Resources and the Environment.

National Security and Immigration Committee

The National Security and Immigration Committee was constituted by Statutory Instrument No. 115 of 1998. The said Committee has six Members. Two of the Members of the National Security and Immigration Committee are Members who do not support the Government.

Subjects that are referred to the National Security and Immigration Committee are matters assigned under the under the Constitution to the Minister responsible for National Security and Immigration.

Agriculture and Fisheries Committee

The Agriculture and Fisheries Committee was constituted by Statutory Instrument No. 115 of 1998. The said Committee has six Members. Two of the Members of the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee are Members who do not support the Government.

Subjects that are referred to the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee are matters assigned under the Constitution to the Minister responsible for Agriculture and Fisheries and Cooperatives.

Public Accounts Committee

The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee is chosen from among Members who do not support the Government (except at times when there is no such Member.)

The Public Accounts Committee has the duty of examining, considering and reporting on the accounts showing the appropriation of the sums granted by the National Assembly to meet the public expenditure of the country; such other accounts as may be referred to the Committee by the House or under any Law; and the report of the Auditor General on any such accounts.

Tourism, Archaeology and Information Committee

The Tourism, Archaeology and Information Committee was constituted by Statutory Instrument No. 115 of 1998. The said Committee has six Members. Two of the Members of the Tourism, Archaeology and Information Committee are Members who do not support the Government.

Standing Order 73(4) of the House of Representatives states that “Every Member of a Standing Committee may appoint an alternative Member of the House who may attend the meetings of the Committee in the event of the inability of such Member to attend, and every alternate so appointed shall have the same power and authority (including but not limited to the right of vote) as enjoyed by the Member by whom he was so appointed”.

Subjects that are referred to the Tourism, Archaeology and Information Committee are matters relating to Archaeology, Salvaging of Wrecks, all matters related to Tourism, Information and Broadcasting.

Ombudsman Reports Committee

The Ombudsman Reports Committee was constituted by Statutory Instrument No. 8 of 2000. The Committee has six Members. Two of the Members of the Ombudsman Reports Committee are Members who do not support the Government.

Standing Order 73(4) of the House of Representatives states that “Every Member of a Standing Committee may appoint an alternative Member of the House who may attend the meetings of the Committee in the event of the inability of such Member to attend, and every alternate so appointed shall have the same power and authority (including but not limited to the right of vote) as enjoyed by the Member by whom he was so appointed”.

Subjects that are referred to the Ombudsman Reports Committee relate to the Reports by the Ombudsman made under the Ombudsman Act and any other matters incidental to or connected with.