Possession of electricity supply by the Government in emergencies

(1) Where an emergency has been declared in whole or in part in Belize, in which it is necessary and expedient in the public interest that the Government should have control over electricity supply, the Minister, or the Commission with the approval of the Minister, by warrant under his hand or its Chairman’s hand may direct or cause such electricity supply as is specified in the warrant to be taken possession of and/or to be used for the service of the Government, and subject thereto, for such ordinary service as may seem fit, or may direct and 50 authorize such person or persons as he or it thinks fit to assume control of such electricity supply and cause it to be used in such manner as he or it may direct in the warrant. (2) Any such warrant issued under sub-section (1) shall be effective for a period not exceeding thirty days from the date of issue and shall be deemed to have expired on the cesser of the emergency. The Minister, or the Commission with the approval of the Minister, may, where the emergency continues after thirty days, by a like warrant extend the warrant for a further period not exceeding thirty days. (3) The Government shall pay to the licence holder or the owner of any electricity supply taken possession of under this section, as compensation for any loss of profit sustained by the licence holder by reason of the exercise of the powers conferred by this section, such sum as may be agreed between the Government and the licence holder or, in the case that the parties cannot agree, or, failing such agreement by the parties, by arbitration by a fit and proper person to be agreed on by the parties, by arbitration in accordance with the provisions of the Arbitration Act. CAP. 125.