Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise require, “animal” means any animate thing of any kind except a human being; “Authority” means the Belize Port Authority established under section 3 of this Act; “Authority pilot” means a pilot employed by the Authority pursuant to section 54 of this Act; “authorised officer” means a person authorised by the Ports Commissioner to exercise the powers and perform the duties in respect of which the expression is used; 9 “beacon” means any light, mark or sign used as an aid to navigation, other than a lighthouse or buoy; “Board” means the Board of the Authority appointed pursuant to section 4 of this Act; “buoy” includes any floating light, mark or sign used as an aid to navigation, other than a lighthouse; “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority and includes any person for the time being performing the functions of the Chairperson; “charges” means any charges or rates levied by the Authority under this Act and includes any rent but does not include dues; “constable” means a constable appointed by the Authority pursuant to section 96 of this Act; “dues” includes pilotage dues, port dues, and tonnage dues levied under this Act but does not include rates; “ferry” means any vessel plying from one side of a waterway to the other for the purpose of the carriage of goods or passengers; “financial year” means such period of twelve months as the Authority, with the approval of the Minister, may determine to be its financial year, so however that the first financial year shall be the period commencing with the commencement of this Act and ending with such day as shall be fixed by the “goods” means all kinds of movable property including animals; “local authority” means the Belize City Council constituted pursuant to the Belize City Council Act, Cap. 85, the Belmopan City Council constituted pursuant to the Belmopan 10 City Council Act, Cap. 86, or any town, village or district council constituted pursuant to the Town Councils Act, Cap. 87 or Village Councils Act, Cap. 88; “master”, in relation to a ship, means any person (other than an Authority pilot) having charge for the time being of that ship; “Minister” means the Minister responsible for Ports; “owner”, when used in relation, (a) to goods, includes any consignor, consignee, shipper or agent of the owner for the sale, custody, loading, handling, discharge or delivery of such goods; (b) to any ship, includes any part owner, charterer, operator, consignee or mortgagee in possession thereof or any duly authorised agent of such person; “perishable goods” means goods liable to rapid deterioration and, in particular, includes fish, fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, small animals or any other things including plants, game, butter, eggs, milk, cheese, and any other thing which the Authority may by notice published in the Gazette declare to be perishable goods; Committee” means the appointed under section 55 of this Act; “ports” means the Belize City Port, Corozal Port, Dangriga Port, Commerce Bight Port, Riversdale Port, and Punta Gorda Port or any place which may be designated as a port by the Minister; “Ports Commissioner” means the Ports Commissioner of the Authority appointed under section 11 of this Act and incudes any person appointed to act as Ports Commissioner; 11 “port manager” means a port manager appointed under section 11 of this Act, and includes every person appointed to act as “premises” includes any immovable property whether open or enclosed, whether built on or not, whether public or private and whether maintained or not under statutory authority; “Regulations” means the regulations made under this Act; “ship” includes any ship, vessel, tug or boat of any kind whatsoever whether it is propelled by steam or otherwise or is towed; “Tariff Book” means the Tariff Book prepared and published under section 52 (4) of this Act; “vehicle” means any vehicle towed or propelled by any means whatsoever for the portage of goods or persons otherwise than by sea.