Communications during emergency

(1) Where an emergency has been declared under the Belize Constitution in whole or in part in Belize, or where in the opinion of the Minister, circumstances have arisen as a result of industrial action, civil strife or otherwise in which it is necessary and expedient in the public interest that the Government should have control over telecommunications, the Minister may by Order published in the Gazette– (a) authorize the taking of possession and control by the of any telecommunications equipment, installation, service, apparatus or station to be used, (i) for Government service; (ii) for such ordinary service as the Minister may determine; or (b) direct or authorise the control of the transmission and reception of messages in any manner as he may direct. (2) The Government shall, excluding loss of profit, compensate reasonably the owner or controller of any installation, service, apparatus or station, the possession or control of which was assumed under sub-section (1). (3) Where an agreement cannot be reached between the parties concerned with respect to the amount of the compensation paid, the matter shall be referred to an arbitrator agreed to by both parties whose decision shall be binding on all the parties. (4) Each service provider may, during a period of emergency in which normal telecommunications installations are disrupted as a result of a hurricane, flood, earthquake or any other disaster, or as a result of sabotage or suspected sabotage, use his service, apparatus or station for emergency communications and in a manner other than that specified in his licence or in the regulations governing the relevant apparatus or station. (5) Emergency use permitted under this section shall be discontinued when normal telecommunications facilities are again available or when such special use or the installation, service, apparatus or station is terminated by the Minister.