Application of Vienna Convention

(1) Subject to sections 4 and 5 (2) of this Act, the provisions set out in the First Schedule (being Articles or parts of Articles of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations signed in 1963) shall have the force of law in Belize and shall for that purpose be construed in accordance with subsections (2) to (9) of this section. (2) In those provisions, “authorities of the receiving State” shall be construed as including any police officer and any person exercising a power of entry to any premises under any enactment; “grave crime” shall be construed as meaning any offence punishable (on a first conviction) with imprisonment for a term that may extend to five years or with a more severe sentence; 5 “national of the receiving State” shall be construed as meaning a citizen of Belize. (3) The reference in paragraph 2 of Article 17 to any privileges and immunities accorded by customary international law or by international agreements shall be construed as a reference to any privileges and immunities conferred under Part I of the Diplomatic Privileges and Consular Conventions Act, Cap. 23. (4) The references in Article 44 to matters connected with the exercise of the functions of members of a consular post shall be construed as references to matters connected with the exercise of consular functions by consular officers or consular employees. (5) For the purpose of Article 45 and that Article as applied by Article 58 a waiver shall be deemed to have been expressed by a State if it has been expressed by the head, or any person for the time being performing the functions of head, of the diplomatic mission of that State or, if there is no such mission, of the consular post concerned. (6) Articles 50, 51, 52, 54, 62 and 67 shall be construed as granting any privilege or immunity which they require to be granted. (7) The reference in Article 57 to the privileges and immunities provided in Chapter II shall be construed as referring to those provided in Section II of that Chapter. (8) The reference in Article 70 to the rules of international law concerning diplomatic relations shall be construed as a reference to the provisions of Part I of the Diplomatic Privileges and Consular Conventions Act, Cap. 23. (9) The references in Article 71 to additional privileges and immunities that may be granted by the receiving State or to privileges and immunities so far as these are granted by the 6 receiving State shall be construed as referring to such privileges and immunities as may be specified by the Minister under the powers conferred upon him by section 4.