Interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, “approved children home” means a Government or non- government home approved by the Minister to provide substitute family care for a child; “authorized person” means an official or other person authorized by the Minister to perform duties or to discharge responsibilities under this Act; “care order” means a care order made under Part VIII of this Act and includes an interim care order; “child” means, unless provided otherwise in any law, a person below the age of eighteen years; “competent authority” means an official or body or other person authorized expressly or impliedly by this Act or any other enactment to perform the act in question; “Department” means the Department of Human Development; 11 “exclusion order” means an exclusion order made under section 113 of this Act; “foster-care placement” means the placement of a child by order of the court with a person who is not his parent and who is willing to undertake the care and maintenance of the child; “foster-parent” means a person not being the biological mother or father of the child who assumes responsibility of the child by way of a care order; “guardian” means a person having parental responsibility for a child; “Government” means the Government of Belize; “maintenance order” includes any order for the maintenance of a child whether born within or outside of wedlock and any order for the maintenance of a spouse or parent; “Minister” means the Minister for the time being responsible for social services; “Ministry” means the ministry responsible for social services; “parent” means the biological mother or father or adoptive mother or father of a child and includes any person liable by law to maintain a child or entitled to his custody; “parental responsibility” means all duties, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has under this Act in relation to the child; “supervision order” means a supervision order made under Part VIII of this Act and includes an interim supervision order. (2) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference to a magistrates court shall be read and construed, as the case may be, to be a reference to, 12 (a) a Summary Jurisdiction Court exercising criminal jurisdiction in accordance with the Inferior Courts Act, Cap.94, where such reference is in relation to criminal matters; and (b) a District Court exercising civil jurisdiction in accordance with the Inferior Courts Act, Cap. 94, where such reference is in relation to civil matters, and maintenance and other related orders which such court is by this Act authorised to determine. Rights of the Child