Disaster Preparedness and Response (Amendment) Act 2024 (No. 32 of 2024)

BELIZE: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2024 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 1. Short title. 2. Amendment of section 2. 3. Amendment of section 27A. Disaster Preparedness and Response No. 32] Disaster Preparedness and Response 589 AN ACT to amend the Disaster Preparedness and Response Act, Chapter 145 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020; to expand the definition of disaster emergency to include Orders made under the Belize Agricultural Health Authority Act in relation to quarantine pests, notifiable pests or diseases of potential or substantial national economic importance; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. (Gazetted 14th December, 2024). BE IT ENACTED, by and with the advice and consent of the House of Representatives and Senate of Belize and the authority of the same, as follows: 1. This Act may be cited as the DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2024, No. 32 of 2024 I assent, H. E. Dame Froyla Tzalam Governor-General 9th December, 2024. Short title. and shall be read and construed as one with the Disaster Preparedness and Response Act, which is hereinafter referred to as the principal Act. 2. Section 2 of the principal Act is amended by deleting the definition of “disaster emergency” and substituting the following– ““disaster emergency”means– (a) a public emergency declared under section 18(1)(b) of the Belize Constitution on account of the threat or occurrence of a disaster; (b) disaster areas declaration order made under section 27A of this Act; or (c) an Order made under section 33 or 35 of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority Act declaring or identifying a plant pest, or disease, or animal pest as a notifiable plant pest or a quarantine pest, as the case may be;”. 3. Section 27A(3) of the principal Act is amended by inserting after the words, “is in force” the words “or where there is a disaster emergency as a result of an Order made under section 33 or 35 of the Belize Agircultural Health Authority Act”. 590 Disaster Preparedness and Response [No. 32 Interpretation. Printed in Belize by the Government Printer #1 Power Lane, Belmopan CAP. 4. Amendment of section 27A. CAP. 211.