President of Senate States Position on Standing Orders

Last week, Senator Michael Peyrefitte publicly criticized the Briceño Administration for what he interpreted as a breach of the Senate’s Standing Orders. Today, Carolyn Trench-Sandiford, the President of the Senate, announced her position on the matter. As we reported, Senator Peyrefitte contended that the standing orders stipulate that the lead senator for government business must be a minister. Senator Eamon Courtenay remains the lead senator for government business, in spite of his recent resignation as a government minister. President Sandiford sought the legal opinion of Attorney General Anthony Sylvester. That opinion was made public on Wednesday and this morning, the President of the Senate leaned on the AG’s legal opinion to state her position.

Carolyn Trench-Sandiford

Carolyn Trench-Sandiford, President of the Senate

“In ruling on the matter I requested a legal opinion from the Honorable Anthony Sylvester, the Attorney General and principle legal advisor to the Government of Belize by virtue of section forty-two of the constitution. Based on his advice and my own considerations, I am satisfied that there is no need for the leader of government business in the Senate to be a minister or member of cabinet. The standing order makes a clear distinction between the minster and senator in charge of government business and bills, motions, resolutions or papers may be presented by the senator in charge of government business and debated by the Senate even when such senator is not a minister.”