Restriction on disclosure of certain matters

(1) Where the Secretary to the Cabinet at the direction of the Cabinet– (a) gives notice that the disclosure by the Ombudsman of any document or information specified in the notice, or any class of 18 documents or information so specified, would– (i) involve the of the deliberations or proceedings of the Cabinet or any committee thereof, relating to matters of a secret or confidential nature and is likely to be injurious to the public interest; or (ii) prejudice the relations of Belize with the government of any other country, or with any international organization; or (iii) prejudice the detection of offences, the Ombudsman or any member of his staff shall not communicate to any person for any purpose, any document or information specified in the notice, or any document or information of a class so specified; (b) certifies that the giving of any information or the answering of any question or production of any document or thing would prejudice the security or defence of Belize, the Ombudsman shall not further require such information or answer to be given or such document or thing to be produced. (2) Except as provided under sub-section(1) of this section and section 18 (5) of this Act, no law which authorises or requires the refusal to answer any question or the withholding of any information or document or thing on the ground that the answering of the question or the disclosure of the information, document or thing would be injurious to the public interest, shall apply in respect of any investigation by or proceedings before the Ombudsman. 19