Powers of the Minister

(1) The Minister may, if satisfied that the establishment or enrolment of a friendly society has been obtained by fraud or mistake, or that it exists for an illegal purpose or has wilfully and after notice from the Attorney General violated any of the provisions of, or any of the rules made under, this Act or has ceased to exist, cancel its establishment or enrolment. (2) The Minister in any case in which he might cancel the establishment or enrolment of a friendly society may suspend such establishment or enrolment for up to three months and may renew the suspension for a like period. (3) Unless the Registrar General has given to a friendly society not less than two months previous notice in writing specifying briefly the grounds of any proposed cancellation or suspension, its rights shall not be cancelled except at its request or suspended. (4) Where the establishment or enrolment of a friendly society has been cancelled or suspended, notice of such cancellation or suspension shall be advertised in the Gazette and in a newspaper circulating in Belize. 20 (5) Where the establishment or enrolment of a friendly society has been suspended or cancelled, it shall during or from the time of the suspension or cancellation cease to enjoy the privileges of a friendly society established or enrolled under this Act but without prejudice to any liability actually incurred and any such liability may be enforced as if the suspension or cancellation had not taken place.