Role Of The Privy Council In Belize

EDM number 402 in 1995-96, proposed by Chris Mullin on 08/02/1996.

That this House notes with concern that the Parliament in Belize is to consider repudiating the jurisdiction of the Privy Council with a view to enabling the resumption of executions; respectfully invites the Parliament and people of Belize to reflect carefully before taking this grave step, bearing in mind that, in addition to a duty to respect rulings of the Privy Council, their membership of the Commonwealth confers certain advantages; recalls that these advantages include loans and aid which in the current financial year amount to ú16.618 million, tariff-free access to EC markets for industrial products and preferential access for a wide range of agricultural products, and a defence agreement to protect Belize from aggression; and warns the Parliament and people of Belize that, in the event that they repudiate the jurisdiction of the Privy Council and resume executions, these other arrangements may also have to be reviewed.

This motion has been signed by a total of 33 MPs.