There's a special setting of the Senate on Thursday at 10:00, and it's mostly to exercise its function as the body that ratifies treaties. Basic diplomatic housekeeping, but one specific treaty has stirred some scrutiny. It's called the "Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards." It's a UN treaty that's been around since the middle of last century - and, as far as we know, Belize is already signed unto it from the colonial days. This next step is just to formally ratify it.
But some take it as a cue that the treaty is making way for the payment of the Universal Debt to the Belize Bank - 90 million dollars plus interest - which comes out of an arbitral award at the London Court of International Arbitration.
But, observers we spoke to say - treaty or not - any payment of that debt would still have to go through parliament to authorise it from the consolidated revenue fund.
Still, the UDP members of the Senate we spoke to say they plan to oppose the motion 100%.
We'll have the Senate Debate for you on Thursday.
