Recognition of refugees

(1) Any person who is within Belize, whether he has entered Belize lawfully or otherwise, and who wishes to remain within Belize as a refugee in terms of this Act shall within fourteen 10 days of his arrival in Belize apply to the Committee for recognition of his status as a refugee. (2) Unless it is impossible or inexpedient to do so, the Committee shall consider every application made to it in terms of sub-section (1) within thirty days of the application being so made, and may, either within such period of thirty days or thereafter, make such inquiry or investigation as the Committee thinks necessary into any such application. (3) After considering any application made to it under this section, the Committee– (a) may, subject to confirmation by the Minister, recognize the applicant concerned as a (b) may refuse to recognize the applicant as a (c) shall cause the applicant concerned to be notified of its decision within seven days. (4) Every determination of the Committee to recognize an applicant as a refugee shall be subject to confirmation by the (5) Any person who is aggrieved by a refusal by the Committee to recognize him as a refugee may, within fourteen days of being notified of such refusal, appeal in writing to the (6) In any appeal in terms of sub-section (4), the Minister may confirm or set aside the decision of the Committee and shall cause the appellant concerned to be notified of his decision in the matter, and the decision of the Minister shall be final, Provided that, before reaching a decision in an appeal, the Minister may do any of the following11 (a) invite the representative in Belize of the United Nations High Commissioner for to make oral or written representations in the matter; (b) refer the matter back to the Committee for further inquiry and investigation to be made; or (c) himself, make such further inquiry and investigation into the matter as he thinks fit.