Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) “award” means any amount payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund to any person pursuant to this Act; (b) “contribution” means contributions payable pursuant to this Act; (c) “contributor” means any legislator who by virtue of section 3 becomes a contributor under this Act; (d) “former legislative service” means service as a legislator between the 25th March, 1954 and the commencement of this Act; (e) “full parliamentary term” means the period commencing on the date of the first sitting of the National Assembly (or Legislative Assembly) after a general election and expiring at the date of the next ensuing dissolution of the National Assembly (or Legislative Assembly); (f) “legislator’ means a person who, 5 (i) was an elected or nominated member of the Legislative Assembly under the British Honduras Constitution, 1954, including the Speaker thereof; or (ii) was an elected or nominated member of the National Assembly under the British Honduras Constitution, 1963, including the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives; or (iii) was or is an elected or nominated member of the National Assembly under the Belize Constitution, Cap. 4, including the President and Vice- President of the Senate and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives; (g) “member” includes a Minister; (h) “the Minister” means the Minister responsible for Finance; (i) “pension” means a pension payable pursuant to section 5; (j) “salary” in respect of a legislator, means the highest rate of basic allowance or salary paid to him at any time as a member of the Legislative Assembly or the National Assembly, but does not include expense allowance, duty allowance, entertainment allowance or any other allowance or emoluments whatever or any amount provided as a contribution to office or any other expenses; 6 (k) “widow” includes a “widower” and words and expressions importing the feminine gender include the masculine.