Functions of the Corporation

(1) The Corporation shall, (a) facilitate the construction and rehabilitation of transportation infrastructure throughout the Toledo District; (b) facilitate the utilization of a comprehensive development plan for guiding development activities throughout the District; (c) facilitate the establishment of buying centres for farming and fisheries produce throughout the Toledo District; (d) facilitate the digging of wells and establishment of other water systems at farms and other residential properties in villages and communities throughout the Toledo District; (e) facilitate the provision of electricity and tele- communication at special concessionary rates to remote villages throughout the Toledo District; (f) facilitate the establishment, rehabilitation and expansion of urban and rural health posts and 12 mobile health clinics and the provision of at least one community health worker in each village and community in the Toledo District; (g) facilitate the provision of special incentives to promote and protect fisheries development and management, eco-tourism co-operative ventures, aquaculture co-operative ventures, and co-operatives for the sustainable exploitation of non-forest products, and assisting in the marketing, within and outside Belize, of the products of such business ventures; (h) facilitate the implementation of a sustainable forest co-management plan which will provide the residents of the Toledo District with profitable benefits; (i) facilitate the design and implementation of a food and nutrition security plan for the Toledo District; (j) facilitate the promotion of agricultural co- operatives throughout the Toledo District; especially in areas like livestock and poultry rearing and processing; (k) facilitate the establishment of canneries and other processing plants throughout the Toledo District; (l) facilitate the establishment of recreational and cultural facilities throughout the Toledo District; 13 (m) facilitate the proper maintenance of public works road units in the Toledo District; (n) facilitate the efficient use of land resources in the District for agricultural, commercial, residential, industrial and recreational purposes; (o) facilitate the development of a viable economic strategy for the District through the establishment of commercial free zones and export processing zones in the Toledo District; (p) facilitate the increase in immigration and customs entry and exit points into and from the District to prevent illegal immigrants from entering and settling in Belize; (q) facilitate the creation of employment in the District through the establishment of light industries which are awarded special fiscal and other incentives in accordance with the laws of Belize. (2) The Corporation shall be the principal development entity of the Toledo District and shall in the performance of its functions liaise with relevant Government Departments and non-governmental organizations and with Town Councils, Village Councils, Toledo Alcalde Association, and other Associations and Councils in developing or adopting a plan for the integral development of the Toledo District and in identifying and recommending to relevant agencies development projects and programmes within the District and providing, where appropriate, technical and other assistance to community groups for the execution of such projects and programmes. 14 (3) In performing its functions under subsection (1) of this section, the Corporation shall have regard to, (a) the financial aspect of any project or programme; (b) whether the project or programme may be executed utilizing technical, human and natural resources from the Toledo District; (c) whether there is in existence any report or plan prepared from any research or study done in the Toledo District by or for and on behalf of the Government which is relevant to the project and programme, and the results or recommendations, where applicable, of such research or study; (d) the time required for the completion of the project or programme; (e) whether the project or programme will enhance and strengthen the environmental, cultural, economic or institutional viability of the Toledo District; and (f) whether the project or programme falls in the sectorial and geographical priority areas of projects and programmes identified by the Corporation for urgent social or economic development within the District. (4) The Corporation shall have the power to identify and encourage, in consultation with any interested body or entity, the procedures and criteria to be used when selecting a development project or programme for execution in the District, and the policies to be used in project or programme 15 management, but the Corporation shall not have the power to revoke, or to recommend the revocation of, any project commenced, or concession awarded, prior to the commencement of this Act. (5) The objectives and functions of the Corporation under this Act shall be without prejudice to the powers and functions of any other body or organisation conferred on that body or organisation by any Act or other law. (6) It shall be the duty of the Corporation to carry out its objectives and functions in accordance with the provisions of this Act and any general directions which may be given from time to time by the Minister in that behalf.