And while the debate on that bill demonstrated a surprising degree of bi-partisanship, so did the debate on the Belize Building Amendment Bill. That's an attempt to revise the Belize building act brought by the Minister of Housing. But the representative for Cayo South Julius Espat who is an architect, said it's lacking a key element:...
Hon. Julius Espat
"To be able to abide by this Belize building Act, we have to refer to what and it says so in the act building regulations and to be able to abide by the building regulations Madam Speaker, we also have to abide by building codes. It's theoretical what is here, but it cannot function and it has not been functioning properly because the country of Belize does not have a building regulation and worse than that we have not adapted a building code that is suitable for our environment and our country. All I am saying is let us work together on this. Let's us get to the point where we can have a Belizean code."
Hon. Michael Finnegan
"But I don't want you only to come in here and to pontificate. This bill is before the house for a period of time, for months. There was a committee meeting to discuss this bill. The member from Lake I is on this committee, member from Toledo West is on this committee. You didn't show up. Poor Rodwell once showed up at the thing from Stann Creek West and he showed up and he concur with the presentation that is being made in the house today. You see member what we want, instead of we are quarrel with one another and the throw words on each other, when an important piece of feature like this is presented to house, I am open to you. I am open to all members out there. Yes you can go ahead member."
Hon. Julius Espat
"I forgot to mention in 1999, the chamber of commerce had done a study and it was finance by the USAID, on one of the studies was a Belize Residential Construction Standard. It went in that direction Madam Speaker, I believe it's well put together, it might have a couple things that need to be updated because we are now in 2017, but there is a document already prepared by Belizeans, it has never been put into law. It has been shelved by both governments I must say and this is something I think is a starting point Minister that could help us in that way. Thank you."
Hon. Michael Finnegan
"Thank you member from Cayo South and that's the best presentation I have ever heard make in this house."
Both those bills were passed on Friday.
