Other criteria for licensing

(1) Subject to subregulation (2), the Committee shall grant a licence to– (a) an individual who is a Belizean citizen or permanent resident with the business of 43 tourism indicated as his principal occupation on his permanent residency permit and who has resided in Belize for at least five years; (b) an entity which is controlled by a majority of Belizeans or permanent residents of Belize, or a company whose majority shareholding is owned by Belizean citizens or permanent residents, and which possesses a valid trade (c) applicants who have not, for the previous three years, been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty, or any other serious offence recognized as such by the Committee, and who have not within that period been declared bankrupt in Belize or abroad; (d) applicants who are at least eighteen (18) years of age and who have a minimum of one year boating experience; (e) applicants who submit, together with the application form as set out in Schedule ISchedule I. (i) proof of ownership of the local water passenger vessel or local water sports vessel; (ii) a valid certificate of seaworthiness in respect of the vessel and a safety licence issued by the Belize Port Authority and additionally the captain of the vessel must be licensed by the Belize Port Authority; (iii) a valid copy of their liability insurance; 44 (f) in the case of a company, a copy of its memorandum and articles of association and certificate of registration; and (g) professional details of persons employed or to be employed by the applicant (if any), and the number of Belize citizens and permanent residents so employed. (2) Operators who have been operating as such for a period of at least one year before the commencement of these Regulations and who do not meet the licensing criteria specified in subregulation (1)(a) and (b) may obtain a licence under these Regulations provided that they meet all the other licensing criteria specified in subregulation (1)(c) to (g) and provided further that they submit to the Committee, at least thirty days after the commencement of these Regulations– (a) proof of continuous local water passenger or water sports vessel operations in Belize for a period of at least one year prior to the commencement of these Regulations, in the form of receipts, evidence of income tax and business tax returns or previous trade licences or any other evidence of a similar nature; and (b) proof that they are competent to conduct the business of local water passenger or water sports vessel operations; and (c) any other requirements which the Committee may stipulate as a condition precedent to the issue of the licence. (3) Foreign water passenger or water sports vessel operators who do not fall under the categories specified in subregulation (2) shall only operate in the territorial waters of Belize under special licences granted by the Committee. 45 (4) Any person who contravenes subregulation (3) commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year.