Powers of Minister

(1) The Minister shall have the general superintendence, management and control of the harbour of Belize City and the other harbours of Belize and of all the lighthouse stations, lighthouses, shorelights, buoys, beacons and other works and apparatus for the warning and guidance of ships within Belize or the territorial waters thereof and may do all or any of the following things– (a) make regulations for– (i) the control, improvement, preservation and of lighthouse stations, lighthouses, shorelights, buoys and beacons; (ii) the control, improvement, preservation and maintenance of all or any of the ports, harbours, roadsteads, rivers, canals, lagoons or public wharves of Belize, and for the maintenance of good order therein; (iii) requiring the exhibition of such lights, signs and signals as may be considered necessary and regulating the steps to be taken for avoiding collisions by ships navigating within Belize; (iv) imposing for breaches thereof not exceeding five thousand dollars which may be recovered on summary conviction; (v) carrying out generally the provisions of this Act; (b) make, and when made, alter, vary or suspend, scales of dues to be paid by persons using any Harbours and Merchant Shipping [CAP. 234 11 public or private wharf for landing goods, or otherwise, or any building on any such wharf; (c) define public wharves and the limits thereof; (d) exempt from payment of the whole or any part of any light, port or harbour dues or charges, the steamer or steamers of any person or company who enters into a contract with the Government; (e) exempt from payment of the whole or any part of any light, port or harbour dues or charges, the transports or store ships of any friendly foreign Government or Governments; (f) lease any portion of any public wharf to any person or company, and make regulations for prescribing the terms and conditions of such lease including the exemption in whole or in part of any tonnage dues that would otherwise be payable by the person or company so leasing a portion of a public wharf. (2) Any regulations made under sub-section (1) (f), shall be subject to negative resolution.