University of Belize Bill approved for presentation to House

In other Cabinet news, the bill for the establishment of the University of Belize was approved for presentation at the next sitting of the House of Representatives. The bill will bring together five tertiary level institutions and establish a board of trustees for the development and management of the university. After presentation to the House, the University of Belize Bill will be referred to the House Education Committee for further consultation before it becomes law. Cabinet also approved a Non-Governmental Organizations Bill for presentation to the House. It calls for all NGOs to register to ensure transparency and accountability of their actions. Under the draft legislation only NGOs whose aims and objectives are consistent with the constitution and contribute to sustainable development in Belize will be registered. The Cabinet briefing states that while the bill will protect the NGOs from government control it will establish guidelines for their operation. The Ministry of Human Development, Women and Civil Society will coordinate the activities of the NGOs and their relationship with government. Improvements are in the works for the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Cabinet approved the Ministry of Health’s request to hire additional medical and nursing staff and the purchase of additional supplies for the hospital. The Interim Board will also recruit a Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Finance. In related news, Cabinet approved the draft legislation to establish an autonomous body to run the K.H.M.H. The eleven-member board will have representatives from the public and private sector. Some members of the Interim Board may remain on the substantive board. To prevent the misuse of government vehicles and cut losses, a new policy will be employed reducing the number of categories of officers who will be assigned government vehicles. All other officers will be given the option of buying the government vehicle they now drive, or receive a soft loan to buy another one. Municipal bodies and statutory corporations will be given new license plates to distinguish them from central government vehicles and strict controls will monitor vehicle use. Cabinet also announced some personnel changes in the upper management of several ministries. Glenford Arthurs of the Belize Defense Force takes over as the new Commissioner of Transport after the retirement of Jerome Wade. Philip Bracket is being appointed Executive Officer for the Housing Department in the Ministry of Housing, Urban Renewal and Foreign Affairs while Manuel Lopez will be the Permanent Secretary for that Ministry. Bracket will be carrying out the administrative functions of that department while Housing and Planning Officer Carolyn Trench Sandiford is on special assignment dealing with the proposed satellite towns.