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But, before the meeting could start, the senators had to welcome an addition of a new peer, Adelaida Guerra. She's the First Vice President of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, but in order for her organisation to have a representative present, she had to sworn in as a Senator.

Now, the circumstance of that necessity are a bit peculiar. The man who usually serves the labour movement is Ray Davis, who viewers know very well as the Labour Movement's man in the Legislature for years. Well, it appears that he's out of the country, and he did not inform the general membership of the NTUCB that he was leaving.

President Marvin Mora told us that as soon as he was informed of absence of Senator Davis, he quickly moved to convene a meeting of the representatives of the unions under the umbrella of the NTUCB to find a temporary replacement. Guerra had the most support of those present, and she was chosen as the member of the NTUCB as the person who would speak on behalf of the Unions today. Here's an excerpt of her speech given as a first-time member of the Legislature:

Senator Adelaida Guerra - New Senator

"I will bare true fate and a legion to Belize and will uphold the constitution and the law and I will contentiously impartially and to the best to my ability discharge my duties as senator."

Senator Mark Lizarraga – Business Senator

"I take this opportunity as well to welcome senator Guerra."

Senator Adelaida Guerra

"This supplementary appropriation coming after the fact and I'm asking us to..... approve. We look at the.... source, where is it coming from? And I see petrocaribe. And.... because of the source then we have to take again because the source of this has in the agreement - it has certain things as it's to be used for. I've heard the senator from the business highlighting all the numbers and all of that.... my reason for standing and talking not in favour for this bill because of the petrocaribe source. It's the fact that these projects don't give us accountability, this paper has one sheet. We don't see how the 10 million dollars or this whole 51 million dollars will be used."

As to her tenure as the labor senator, President Mora told us that it is only temporary, and it depends on the availability of Ray Davis for whatever Senate meeting happens again. We asked him if this is any indication that Davis has been replaced, and he reiterated us that Guerra remains as the Labour senator on as long as she is needed to fill the position if Davis is unavailable.

As viewers will remember, however, Senator Davis came under fire from those within the Labour movement who believe that he ought not to have abstained when the Petrocaribe Loans Act was first passed in the Senate on March 30. We'll follow closely to see what happens to the Senatorial seat for the Labour Unions.