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The Senate met on Wednesday, April 28, and debated the 2021-2022 budget. After the senators gave their input, a division of the Senate was asked for by the Leader of the UDP in the Senate, Hon. Michael Peyrefitte. At the end, 4 senators including Hon. Michael Peyrefitte, Hon. Sheena Pitts and Hon. Aldo Salazar representing the UDP voted not to have the budget passed as it would pass undue hard times to teachers and public officers. The one other senator who voted against the budget, herself being affected by the salary cut and increment freeze was Senator Elena Smith.
Hon. Osmany Salas, who represents the NGO community, abstained, while all other senators including those representing the PUP, the churches and the business community voted for the senate to pass the Budget.
Since coming into opposition following the 2020 General Elections, the United Democratic Party Leader and current Leader of the Opposition Hon. Patrick Faber formed a slate to make up a Shadow Cabinet and Opposition spokespersons. They are now the persons responsible to hold the current administration to their word and to ensure that they are acting legally and within the best interest of the country. While they meet on a weekly basis, since the November election, the first public proclamation from members of the Shadow Cabinet and Opposition spokespersons was held on Thursday, January 21, 2021 when Hon. Patrick Faber expressed that it is his and the party’s opinion that the PUP is not acting in the country’s best interest in some areas. Some of their actions so far have not been productive to the country’s development.
Dec 11, 2020
Senators Sit for Inaugural Senate Meeting
Preceding the inaugural Sitting of the House of Representatives, an introductory Sitting of the Senate was held inside the chambers of the National Assembly. The Government appointed six new senators and they are Eamon Courtenay, Christopher Coye, Doctor Isabel Bennett, Bevin Cal, Collet Montejo and Erica Jang. The Opposition, United Democratic Party has appointed Michael Peyrefitte as Lead Opposition Senator who will be supported by Sheena Pitts and Aldo Salazar. The N.G.O. community voted to keep Osmany Salas in the Senate and so did the unions with Elena Smith. The Churches have chosen Bishop Moses Benguche to replace Pastor Ashley Rocke and Kevin Herrera replaces Mark Lizarraga as the Senator for the Private Sector. The President of the Senate is now Carolyn Trench-Sandiford who was warmly received by the senators.
Sheena Pitts
The United Democratic Party has named the three senators which will fill the positions that are allotted to the opposition in the Senate. During a virtual press conference held on Wednesday December 9, UDP Party Leader, Hon. Patrick Faber announced that, all attorneys, Michael Peyrefitte, Aldo Salazar and Sheena Pitts will take up the positions of Senators.
While these persons will now represent the UDP in the Senate, Hon. Faber explained that in the case of Salazar, he will only be temporarily holding the position until Belmopan Mayor, Khalid Belisle’s tenure in that office comes to an end in March. At that time municipal elections will be due and, not seeking the office again, Belisle will take up the position of senator.