Adjournment - Definite Matters of Urgent Public Importance

(1) No Senator other than a Minister may move the adjournment of the Senate except in accordance with the following paragraphs of this Standing Order. (2) A Senator who wishes to ask leave to move the adjournment of the Senate for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance shall, before the commencement of the sitting, hand to the President a written notification of the matter which he wishes to discuss. The President shall refuse to allow the claim unless he is satisfied– (a) that the matter is definite; (b) that the matter is urgent; (c) that the matter is of public importance; and 110 Belize Constitution (d) that the matter may properly be raised on a Motion for the adjournment of the Senate. (3) If the President is so satisfied and either– (a) leave of the Senate is given; or (b) if it is not given, at least two Senators by rising indicate that they support the request, the Motion shall stand over until such hour on the same day as the President may appoint, and at that hour any proceeding on which the Senate is engaged shall be postponed until the Motion for the adjournment is disposed of, or until such Motion has continued for the period of one hour, whichever is earlier. When the debate on the Motion for the adjournment has continued for a period of one hour, the Motion for the adjournment shall lapse and the proceedings which were postponed shall be resumed and dealt with in accordance with the relevant Standing Orders. The Senate’s ordinary hours of sitting shall be extended by a period of time equivalent to the period of time spent in respect of the debate on the Motion for the adjournment of the Senate for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public (4) Not more than one Motion for the adjournment of the Senate under this Standing Order may be allowed at one sitting.