Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires“banker’s book” includes any ledger, day book, cash book, account book and any other book used in the ordinary business of a bank; “common law union” means the relationship that is established when a man and a woman who are not legally married to each other and to any other person cohabit together continuously as husband and wife for a period of at least five years; 9 “computer” means any device or combination of devices used together or in succession for the purpose of storing and processing information; “court” means any court of Belize having jurisdiction to hear and determine causes and matters, whether civil or criminal, and includes arbitrators and referees; “document” includes– (a) books, maps, plans, graphs, drawings and photographs; (b) any disc, tape, sound track or other device in which sound or other data (not being visual images) are embodied so as to be capable (with or without the aid of some other equipment) of being reproduced therefrom; and (c) any film, negative, tape or other device in which one or more visual images are embodied so as to be capable (with or without the aid of some other equipment) of being reproduced therefrom; “facts in issue” means– (a) all facts which, by the form of the pleadings in any action or other proceeding, are affirmed on one side and denied on the other; and (b) in actions or other proceedings in which there are no pleadings, or in which the form of the pleadings is such that distinct issues are not joined between the parties, all facts from the establishment of which the existence, non-existence, nature or extent of any right, liability or disability, asserted or denied, in any such case would by law follow; 10 “judge” includes all persons authorised to take evidence, either by law or by consent of parties; “proceedings” includes arbitrations and references; “statement” includes any representation of fact or opinion made, and it includes representation made in words, symbols, pictographic or other forms.