Property in and control of minerals

(1) Notwithstanding anything in any other Act or any grant of, or title to, land conferring rights to minerals, the entire property in and control of all minerals– (a) in any land in Belize; (b) under territorial sea as determined by the maritime legislation in force; (c) on or under the sea bed beyond the territorial sea to a point where the sea is two hundred metres in depth and beyond to such depths of the super jacent waters as admit of exploitation of minerals; or (d) in suspension or in solution in any spring, stream, river, lake, lagoon or in the sea, shall be deemed to be and always to have been vested in Belize. (2) Any rights to minerals explicit or implied in any grant of, or title to, land made previous to this Act are hereby revoked, 10 Provided that such rights to minerals shall not be revoked if the holder thereof satisfies the Minister, within twelve months from the date of commencement of this Act, that he has taken or is taking adequate measures to develop such mineral rights. (3) No grants of the rights to prospect or mine shall be valid unless granted in accordance with this Act. (4) No person shall prospect or mine except in accordance with the rights granted under this Act. (5) Any person who contravenes sub-section (4), commits an offence and is liable on conviction– (a) in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or to both such fine and term of imprisonment; or (b) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars. (6) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to sanction prospecting for or mining of mineral oil.