Establishment of villages

(1) The Minister may, by Order published in the Gazette, fix and declare any area of Belize not comprised within any city or town to be a village for the purpose of this Act, provided that at least two hundred persons who would be qualified to vote for village councils under this Act live in such an area. (2) Notwithstanding the requirement stated in subsection (1) of this section, any village already existing and recognized by the appropriate department of government before the passing of this Act shall be a village under this Act. 9 (3) The boundaries of a village shall be declared as recommended by the Ministry in accordance with the following procedures, (a) in the case of existing villages which have no disputed area with any adjoining village, in accordance with the currently existing boundaries ascertained in consultation with the village council already existing; (b) in the case of existing villages which have a disputed area with any adjoining village, in accordance with the recommendation of an independent commission appointed by the Ministry to mediate in the dispute; (c) in the case of a new village, in accordance with the recommendation of the Ministry arrived at after taking into account the views of those proposing the establishment of the village, the views of the Ministry responsible for lands, the environmental conditions of the area, and any other pertinent facts. (4) The Minister may, by Order published in the Gazette, fix and declare any area of Belize not comprised within any city, town or village to be a community, Provided that any community already existing and recognized as such by the appropriate department of government before the passing of this Act shall be a community under this Act. (5) Parts II to VI of this Act shall, subject to subsection (6) of this section, apply mutatis mutandis to communities and to community councils. (6) The Elections and Boundaries Commission may, when acting pursuant to section 35 (1) of this Act, after consulting communities and community councils, modify the application 10 of any provision of this Act to any community or community council, and modification may for this purpose be made to, (a) the qualifications needed under section 7 of this Act for a person to be a member of a community council; (b) the qualifications needed by a person to be a voter at an election for a community council; or (c) any other matter or provision relating to communities or to community council elections or by-elections which may be reasonably for the efficient functioning of community council elections, or for the proper administration and management of communities and community (7) Every Order made by the Minister under this section shall be subject to affirmative resolution of the House of Representatives.