On the National Assembly's website, the Office of the Clerk notes that Opposition Leader John Briceño officially informed them that that Courtenay had resigned from the Senate. So has the senior Senator gone crossway with his party?

A PUP press release this evening, explained quote, "Ambassador Courtenay stepped down as the Opposition's lead senator to dedicate his full attention to his new appointment as the Opposition Leader's representative on the Belize - Guatemala Committee that is working along with Belize's ICJ International Legal Team. The Party Leader thanks Ambassador Courtenay for his dedicated years of service as senator and for the work he will do as his representative on the Belize Guatemala Committee..." End quote.

The Opposition Leader has since advised the Governor General that Cayo North Candidate Michel Chebat has been nominated as the designate who will fill the vacant seat.

Several times in the past, Chebat has filled in for Courtenay when there was a Senate meeting, and Courtenay was abroad.