Procedure where the owner cannot be found

(1) If the building in respect of which any information is laid or summons issued or order made under section 3 of this Act is unoccupied, and if after reasonable inquiry it cannot be ascertained who is the owner or the agent of the owner of the building, or if the building is unoccupied and the owner of the building is absent from Belize leaving no agent in Belize to represent him in respect of the building, it shall not be necessary in any such information, summons or order to insert the name of the owner of the building or of the agent of the owner of the building, but instead of the name of the owner of the building may be inserted the words “the owner of”, followed by a reasonable description of the building. (2) Every summons issued under subsection (1) of this section shall be served by, 6 (a) affixing and leaving affixed a copy of the said summons upon the building specified in such summons; (b) affixing and leaving affixed a copy of the said summons upon some prominent place either within or without the building in which the information specified in such summons is intended to be heard; and (c) publishing a copy of the said summons three times in the Gazette. (3) At the time and place appointed in and by any such summons for the hearing of the information therein specified any person having or claiming any estate or interest in the building may appear in the same manner as if the summons had been directed to him by name, but if no such person shall appear then upon proof that the summons has been served as provided in subsection (2) of this section, and also that the reasonable inquiry mentioned in subsection (1) of this section has been made, the information specified in such summons may be heard ex parte, and if the magistrate is fully satisfied as provided in subsection (2) of this section, an order may be made by him on such information as provided in section 3 of this Act.