Photo: Legislative Presidents at FOPREL Meeting

by Kristen Ku

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, Mon. Mar. 13, 2023

On Friday of last week, the vice-president of the Senate, Hon. Collet Montejo, attended the XLI Regular Meeting Forum of Presidents of Legislative Powers of Central America, the Caribbean Basin, and Mexico (FOPREL), held in San Salvador, El Salvador.

Hon. Montejo attended the gathering on behalf of Hon. Valerie Woods, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and was accompanied by Mrs. Clarita Pech, Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, who serves as Belize’s Technical Advisor for FOPREL.

The highlight of the meeting, held on Friday, was the transfer of the Pro Tempore presidency and vice-presidency of FOPREL, which is set to last from March 11, 2023, to March 10, 2024.

The position of president was transferred to Hon. Alfredo Pacheco Osoria, President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic, while the position of vice-president was transferred to Hon. Deputy Rodrigo Arias Sanchez, President of the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Costa Rica.

The Legislative Presidents also discussed and signed off on four Resolutions in the meeting which was followed by the formal meeting with the President of the Republic of El Salvador, His Excellency Nayib Armando Bukele, at the Presidential House.

Both Hon. Montejo and Mrs. Pech returned to Belize on Saturday, March 11.