Offences and penalties

(1) Any licence holder who– (a) insults, abuses or harasses without just cause a tourist under his or its care, either through word or deed; or (b) induces or encourages a tourist under his or its care to do anything contrary to the laws of Belize which goes against good customs and morals; or (c) carries out or attempts to carry out his or its functions under these Regulations while he or its agents is or are under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs; or (d) offers for sale or otherwise any illicit drugs or illegal commodity to tourists; or (e) engages in any activity detrimental to the environmental integrity or archaeological or cultural heritage of Belize; or (f) advertises, offers, or sells tour packages and services and does not provide, in part or in whole, the services advertised, offered, or sold; or (g) advertises, offers, or sells tour packages and services of a certain standard or quality and provides, in part or in whole, packages and 30 services of an inferior or lesser standard or quality as advertised, offered, or sold, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or to both such fine and period of imprisonment. (2) Any licence holder who– (a) operates, advertises, or holds himself or itself out as a tour operator without first obtaining a licence issued under these Regulations; or (b) having been issued with a licence, operates in contravention of any term or condition contained in the licence; or (c) having been issued with a licence, operates in contravention of any provision, duty, or requirement as set out in these Regulations; or (d) works or conducts business as a tour operator during any period of suspension of his or its licence or after such licence has been revoked by the Board, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or to both such fine and period of imprisonment. (3) All fines paid under these Regulations shall be credited to the account of the Board. 31 (4) Without prejudice to any penalties which may be prescribed by any other law, if a tour operator– (a) fails to comply with the duties and requirements as set out in regulation 8 herein; (b) has in any application for a licence made any statement which is false in any material particular; (c) is guilty of any misconduct which renders him unfit to continue to act as a licensed tour (d) commits or fails to comply with any of the provisions of these Regulations; (e) contravenes or fails to comply with any of the provisions of these Regulations; (f) engages in any conduct which is not specifically prohibited under these Regulations but which in the opinion of the Committee places the profession in disrepute, the Board may impose on such tour operator any of the following disciplinary measures, namely– (i) a reprimand; (ii) suspension of the licence of the tour operator for such period as the Board may determine; (iii) refusal to renew a licence of the tour operator for such period as the Board may determine; or 32 (iv) revocation of the licence of the tour