Circumstances in which pension may be granted

(1) Subject to section 7 of this Act, no pension, gratuity or other allowance shall be granted under this Act to any officer 10 except on his retirement from the public service in one of the following cases, (a) if he retires from public service under the Government of Belize, (i) on or after he attains the normal retirement age or, in special cases with the approval of the Governor- General, any lower age not being less than fifty years; or (ii) on the abolition of his office; or (iii) on compulsory retirement for the purpose of facilitating improvement in the organization of the department to which he belonged, by which greater efficiency or economy may be effected; or (iv) on medical evidence to the satisfaction of the Governor-General that he is incapable by reason of any infirmity of mind or body of discharging the duties of his office and that such infirmity is likely to be permanent; or (v) in the case of termination of employment in the public interest as provided in this Act; (b) if, having been transferred to other public (i) he retires after he attains the age at which he is permitted by law or regulations of the public service in 11 which he is last employed to retire on pension or gratuity or, if no age is prescribed by the said law or regulations, he retires after he attains the age of fifty years; or (ii) he retires in any other circumstances in which he is permitted by the said law or regulations to retire on pension or gratuity, Provided that subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph shall not apply in the case of a female officer who retires for the reason that she has married or is about to marry. (2) Notwithstanding that she is not otherwise eligible under this section for the grant of any pension, gratuity or other allowance, a gratuity may be granted to a female officer in accordance with this Act who retires from the public service for the reason that she has married or is about to marry. (3) An officer not qualified for a pension, gratuity or other allowance under this Act (other than a pension under regulation 24 (4) of the Pensions Regulations) may, on his retirement or removal from his employment after having served in the public service under the Government of Belize for not less than five years, be granted a gratuity in accordance with the provisions of this Act: Provided that this subsection shall not apply to any officer serving on pensionable terms in the public service at the termination of his service.