Gratuity may be granted for service prematurely terminated

Upon retirement an officer not otherwise eligible for a pension may be granted a gratuity in accordance with the following provisions– (a) an officer who has retired at his own request or upon reaching the compulsory retirement age for his rank or who is removed or called upon to retire or resign in the public interest, and not due to causes within his own control and who has at least ten years qualifying service may be granted a gratuity of an amount equal to forty-two days’ pay for each year of reckonable service at the average rate in issue to the officer over the three years immediately preceding the date of retirement; (b) an officer who is invalided from the Belize Defence Force may be granted a gratuity of an amount equal to sixty-three days’ pay for each year of reckonable service at the average rate in issue to the officer over the period of three years immediately preceding the date of retirement; or (c) an officer who is removed or is called upon to retire or resign or who is dismissed with disgrace may be granted, if the appropriate Defence 177 authority so decides, a compassionate gratuity at such reduced rate as would have been applicable had he retired at his own request.