Construction of definition of “Minister” in any Act or subsidiary legislation 6 Interpretation

(1) Where in any Act, rule, regulation, order or other instrument having legal effect, the term “Minister” is defined as the Minister responsible for a specific subject or department of Government, the same shall be read and construed for all purposes as the Minister for the time being responsible for the matter in question who has been assigned responsibility for such matter by the Governor- General under section 41 of the Belize Constitution, Cap. 4. (2) Where there is a conflict between the definition of the term “Minister” as contained in any Act, rule, regulation, order or other instrument having legal effect, and the allocation of portfolios to Ministers by the Governor-General under section 41 of the Belize Constitution, Cap. 4, the Minister who for the time being has been so assigned responsibility by the Governor-General for the matter in question shall prevail over any contrary Minister specified in any such Act or subsidiary legislation, and may validly exercise all the powers and functions appertaining to the Minister under such laws notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained therein.