Agreements with the providers of water

(1) It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief to take reasonable measures to ensure the provision of an adequate supply of water for use in extinguishing fires or controlling and 16 containing other disasters and he may, for this purpose, with the approval of the Minister, enter into written agreements with any person or body duly authorised or licensed under the appropriate legislation to provide water. (2) An agreement made by the Fire Chief with any person or body pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall include the conditions specified in subsection (3) of this section. (3) The conditions referred to in subsection (2) of this section are, (a) that whenever the Fire Chief is satisfied that existing water supply provided by such person or body for domestic and industrial purposes is likely to be inadequate in case of the occurrence of a fire or other disaster, the Fire Chief shall notify such person or body and such person or body shall provide such additional supply of water as may be specified by the Fire Chief in writing; (b) that such person or body shall, at the written request of the Fire Chief, and upon payment by the Government for that purpose, install and fix fire hydrants on the mains of all of that person or body’s water supply systems (other than trunk mains), at such places as may be most convenient for affording a supply of water for extinguishing any fire or controlling any other disaster that may occur within the limits of the water supply system, and shall keep and maintain such fire hydrants in a general state of good repair, or at the written request of the Fire Chief, replace any such hydrant; (c) that the total number of fire hydrants that may be installed and fixed by such person or body under paragraph (b) of this subsection may be specified in writing by the Fire Chief and that the Fire Chief may request in writing that such person or body increase the total of such fire hydrants; (d) that such person or body shall clearly indicate the position of each fire hydrant by placing a written notice or other distinguishing mark to that effect in any conspicuous place on any wall or fence adjoining any highway or other public place where the hydrant is located; (e) that the Government of Belize shall bear a portion of the costs incurred by such person or body in installing, fixing, maintaining, renewing and replacing the fire hydrant, and specify the amount to be paid by the Government of Belize and the circumstance in which the Government of Belize shall be exempt from the payment of costs related to repairs of fire hydrants damaged after being used by or with the approval of such person or body for any purpose not directly related to the duties of the Service. (4) The person or body referred to in subsection (1) of this section shall not unreasonably refuse to enter into the agreement referred to in that subsection, and any question as to whether such person or body is unreasonably refusing to enter into the agreement shall be determined by the Cabinet, whose decision thereon shall not be open to challenge in any court of law. (5) Where there is any difference of opinion between the Fire Chief and the person or body referred to in subsection (1) of this section as to the number or proper position of any fire hydrant referred to in the agreement made pursuant to that subsection, such difference shall be resolved by the Cabinet, 18 whose decision thereon shall not be open to challenge in any court of law. (6) Without prejudice to any other legal remedies which may be available to the Government of Belize and the Service, if such person or body wilfully or negligently fails to comply with any of its obligations under the agreement made pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, it commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of seven hundred and fifty dollars, and if the offence is a continuing offence, to a further fine of seventy-five dollars for each day the offence continues. (7) Any person who uses a fire hydrant otherwise than for fire fighting and for the other purposes of the Service, or for any purpose not approved by the person or body referred to in subsection (1) of this section, or who damages any fire hydrant in circumstances not related to the use of such fire hydrant as provided in this Act, commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of one hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one month, or to both such fine and period of imprisonment. (8) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the Fire Chief to designate water heads and to require City and Town Councils to maintain access to these water heads at all times. works.