And while the new House of Representatives got underway at 10:00 am, one hour before that, the new Senate was sworn in. That's 7 new members, four returning members and one as yet un-appointed. Their event was held indoors in the House Chamber and here's how it looked:
Jules Vasquez reporting
The new senators hobnobbed and pleasantries were exchanged across the floor. They even took a group picture. 5 new faces for the UDP holdover senators from the PUP until a new leader is elected.
By tradition, they had to fetch President Lee Mark Chang who gave a brief address
Lee Mark Chang, President of The senate
"I would like to express my grateful thanks for the high honors that you have been pleased to confer me and I give members my solemn assurance that I shall do everything in my powers to make sure that the proceedings of the House are carried out with dignity and impartiality."
Hon. Lisa Shoman, PUP Senator
"It's a mark of high honor I think Mr. President that you are one of these first in this chamber and again, we are happy to have you as our president. We don't promise you that we will always agree with you, but we promise you that we will always work with you in harmony for betterment of Belize."
Lee Mark Chang, President of The senate
"I spent some good hours preparing and I intend to spend weeks more now to catch up on the parliamentary skills."
After that Dr. Carla Barnett was nominated as Vice President of the Senate: After all oaths were taken we spoke to some of the new senators:
Jules Vasquez
"Explain to me how does it feel, you are a senator?"
Hon. Ashley Rocke, Senator for Churches
"New. Exciting. I guess the task of being the senator for the churches is going to be - I suppose it comes with its own challenges. But I am prepared to take on the challenge and do the best I can."
Jules Vasquez
"Explain to me how you fit into the whole political matrix of being appointed a senator by the UDP?"
Hon. Aldo Salazar, UDP Senator
"Well it was simple. The Prime Minister call on me and ask if I would be interested and I said yes."
Reporter
"Traditionally in the senate is that the opposition senators vote one way and the government senators vote all of them another way. Can we look at maybe a little more independence in terms of the way votes are taken?"
Hon. Aldo Salazar, UDP Senator
"If you heard the oath I took, I know everybody took the same oath. I can't say what will happen in the future. We have to look and see and wait and see what develops. I can't really say that we will vote a certain way. We need to look at see what comes up before us."
Jules Vasquez
"Is this a concern for you because sometimes the government does need 6 of its votes and the casting vote of the president as the case may be?"
Hon. Godwin Hulse, UDP Senator
"Well I always think we will get it. I don't see any defectors. But nevertheless, it's not a concern. This is my 4th term as you know and I have managed the last senate with a fairly good balance in terms of who, after we have discuss, who will respond to what and when and I think we will do the same."
The National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Civil Society Steering Committee have not yet agreed on their single senatorial appointment.
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