Medical officer may detain leper on vessel

(1) If a medical officer of health has reason to suspect that any person on board any vessel which comes into Belize is afflicted with leprosy, but such person denies that he is so afflicted, it shall be lawful for the medical officer of health by writing directed to the master or other person in charge of such vessel to make an order that the person suspected to be so afflicted shall be detained on board the vessel until he has been examined by the Director of Health Services and such other medical practitioner or practitioners, if any, as the Minister may see fit to appoint. (2) On receipt of such order the master or other person in charge of the vessel shall cause the person indicated therein to be detained on board the vessel until he has been examined as required by the order, and if any person in respect of whom such an order of detention has been made lands in Belize without the written permission of the medical officer of health, the master or other person in charge of the vessel shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars. (3) A medical officer of health, on making any such order for the detention of any person as aforesaid, shall immediately notify the same and the time of making such order to the Permanent Secretary and the Director of Health Services, together with such medical practitioner, if any, as may be appointed by the Minister for that purpose, shall within twenty- four hours of the time of the making of the order of detention visit the vessel and examine the person detained and shall certify in writing to the Minister whether such person is afflicted with leprosy or not. 61 (4) If it appears by such certificate that the person detained is not afflicted with leprosy, the medical officer of health shall forthwith make an order permitting his landing, but, if it appears by such certificate that the person is afflicted with leprosy, it shall not be lawful for him to land in Belize without the permission of the Minister, to be granted on the Minister being satisfied that the person is a native of Belize or lawfully domiciled therein.