Documents affecting national security, defence and international relations

(1) A document is an exempt document if disclosure of the document under this Act would be contrary to the public interest for the reason that the disclosure, (a) would prejudice the security, defence or international relations of Belize; or (b) would divulge any information or matter communicated in confidence by or on behalf of the Government of another country to the Government of Belize. (2) Where a Minister is satisfied that the disclosure under this Act of a document would be contrary to the public interest for a reason referred to in subsection (1) of this section, he may sign a certificate to that effect and such a certificate, so long as it remains in force, shall establish conclusively that the document is an exempt document referred to in subsection (1) of this section. (3) Where a Minister is satisfied as mentioned in subsection (2) of this section, by reason only of the matter contained in a particular part or particular parts of a document, a certificate under that subsection in respect of the document shall identify that part or those parts of the document as containing the matter by reason of which the certificate is 22 (4) The responsible Minister may delegate his powers under this section to the principal officer of the Ministry or the prescribed authority, as the case may be.