Complaints by soldiers

(1) If a soldier of the Force thinks himself wronged in any matter by any officer other than his or her commanding officer or by any soldier, he or she may make a complaint with respect to that matter to his or her commanding officer. (2) If a soldier thinks himself wronged in any matter by his or her commanding officer, either by reason of redress not being given to his or her satisfaction on a complaint under sub-section (1), or for any other reason, he or she may make a complaint with respect thereto to the Security Services Commission through the Commander, Belize Defence Force. (3) On receiving such a complaint it shall be the duty of the Commandant, Belize Defence Force to proceed as provided in section 144 (2). (4) It shall be the duty of the Security Services Commission or the commanding officer to have any complaint received by them or him, as the case may be, under this section investigated and to take any steps for redressing the matter complained of which appear to them or him, as the case may be, to be necessary. 92 (5) If a soldier is dissatisfied or aggrieved with the decision of the Security Services Commission and is informed in writing of its findings, the penalty imposed, and his right to appeal the determination of the Commission to the Belize Advisory Council and of the time required for making such application, the soldier may proceed in further appealing the matter. (6) Where a soldier lodges an appeal with the Belize Advisory Council within the specified period, the penalty shall take effect pending the determination of the appeal by the Belize Advisory Council. (7) The post occupied by the soldier, who has filed an appeal to the Belize Advisory Council against a decision the Security Services Commission, shall not be substantively filled while the appeal is in progress.