Controlled areas

(1) The Minister may, by Order published in two issues of the Gazette, declare any part of Belize to be a “controlled area”. 7 (2) Such Order shall specify the period during which it shall remain in force, which period shall not be longer than six months and shall expire each year on 30th June. (3) No person shall enter or remain within a controlled area without the written permission of the Chief Forest Officer or of a person authorised by the Chief Forest Officer. (4) A permission granted under subsection (3) of this section may be made subject to such conditions and restrictions stated therein as the person by whom the permission is granted may think fit. (5) Any person who is aggrieved by a refusal of the Chief Forest Officer to grant him permission to enter a controlled area, or by the conditions under which such permission is granted, may appeal in writing to the Minister, and the decision of the Minister shall be final. (6) Any person who enters or remains within a controlled area without the written permission of the Chief Forest Officer or of a person authorised by the Chief Forest Officer or who in a controlled area contravenes or fails to comply with any condition or restriction expressed in the permission granted to him commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both such fine and term of imprisonment.