Hours of Sitting

(1) Except as provided in these Standing Orders, every sitting of the House shall begin at 10.00 o’ clock in the forenoon and, subject to the provisions of this Standing Order, shall end not later than 6.00 o’clock in the afternoon. (2) The Speaker may at any time suspend the sitting for a period stated by him, and shall in any event suspend the sitting at 12 noon and order it to be resumed at 2.00 o’clock. (3) The Speaker shall at 5.50 p.m. interrupt the business under discussion and its resumption shall be appointed for such day as the Minister in charge of arranging the business of the House shall direct, and if the House is in Committee at that time the Chairman shall leave the Chair forthwith and report to the House and the Committee who shall be directed to sit again on Belize Constitution 25 such day as the Minister shall appoint. If a division is in progress at 5.50 o’ clock, the proceedings shall not be interrupted until the result of the division has been declared. Any other business, if unopposed, shall then be disposed of, and at its conclusion, or at 6.00 o’clock notwithstanding that there may be business then still under discussion, the Speaker shall adjourn the House without question put, and the business not disposed of shall stand over till the next sitting. (4) If the Speaker or Chairman is of the opinion that the proceedings on which the House or Committee is engaged at 5.50 p.m. could be concluded by a short extension of time, he may defer interrupting the business until not later than 6.05 p.m. in which case the Speaker shall not adjourn the House without question put until such time after 6.00 o’clock as is equivalent to the period of deferment of the interruption. (5) If any business, when called during the time of unopposed business, is opposed, it shall be appointed for such a day as the Minister in charge of arranging the business of the House shall direct. Any business which, when called during the time of unopposed business, is objected to by a Member, or upon which, when the question is put, a division is sought, shall be treated as opposed business. (6) If all the business appointed at a sitting is concluded before 6.00 o’clock, the Speaker shall call upon a Minister or a member of the Constitution and Foreign Affairs, Privileges, Standing Orders, House and Regulations Committee to move “That this House do now adjourn.” If that question has not been agreed to at 6.00 o’clock the Speaker shall at that hour adjourn the House without question put. (7) On the interruption of business the Closure may be moved; and if it is so moved, or if proceedings under Standing Order No. 41 (Closure of Debate) are then in progress, the Speaker or the Chairman shall not leave the Chair until the question consequent thereon, and on any further Motion as 26 Belize Constitution provided for in Standing Order No. 41 (Closure of Debate) have been decided, even though the divisions on such questions continue beyond 6.00 o’clock but in the latter event, immediately the last of such questions has been decided or, if in Committee, as soon as the Chairman’s report has been received, the Speaker shall adjourn the House without question put. (8) A Minister may, without notice, either at the time appointed in Standing Order No. 15 (Order of Business) or on the interruption of business, move “That the proceedings on any specified business may be entered upon and proceeded with at this day’s sitting at any hour though opposed,” and any such Motion shall be decided without amendment or debate. The business so specified shall not be interrupted at 5.50 o’clock or, if already interrupted, shall be resumed, and may be entered upon at any hour though opposed. Upon the conclusion after 6.00 o’clock of all business so specified the Speaker shall adjourn the House without question put. (9) The House may from time to time by resolution alter, either generally or in respect of a particular sitting, the hours set forth in this Standing Order.