Restriction on grant of exclusive prospecting licence

(1) No exclusive prospecting licence shall be granted over an area of land in, or which constitutes– (a) a mining area; or (b) a claim area. 30 (2) Where an area of land is subject to an exclusive prospecting licence, no other exclusive prospecting licence shall be granted over land in, or which constitutes, that area in respect of any mineral to which the subsisting exclusive prospecting licence relates. (3) Where an area of land is subject to a reconnaissance licence which gives, pursuant to section 19 (4), to the holder of the licence an exclusive right to carry on reconnaissance operations in respect of the land, an exclusive prospecting licence shall not be granted in respect of any mineral to which that exclusive right relates, over land in, or which constitutes, that area, to a person other than the holder of the reconnaissance (4) No exclusive prospecting licence shall be granted to an applicant unless– (a) the applicant has adequate financial resources, technical competence and experience to carry on effective prospecting operations; (b) the programme of proposed prospecting operations is adequate; (c) the applicant’s proposals for the employment and training of citizens of Belize are adequate; and (d) the applicant has paid the fees and complied with all other conditions for grant of a licence.