Receiver to hold examination

(1) Every Receiver, or in his absence any justice of the peace, shall, as soon as convenient, examine upon oath, which oath they are hereby respectively empowered to administer, any person belonging to any ship which may be or may have been in distress on or near the coasts or cayes or within the limits of Belize, or any other person who may be able to give any account thereof, or of the cargo or stores thereof, as to the following matters, (a) the name and description of the ship; (b) the names of the master and of the owners; (c) the names of the owners of the cargo; (d) the ports or places from and to which the ship was bound; (e) the occasion of the distress of the ship; (f) the services rendered; 11 (g) such other matters or circumstances relating to such ship, or to the cargo on board the same, as the Receiver or justice of the peace thinks necessary. (2) The Receiver or justice of the peace shall take the examination down in writing, and for the purposes of such examination, he shall have all the powers given to the Inspector under section 31 of the Harbours and Merchant Shipping Act, Cap. 234, and shall transmit it to the Ports Commissioner or other principal officer of the Port Authority, or other person.