Sandra,

I haven't read the whole thread, only parts of it and I think you'd better come to a settlement with the golf cart company. Do you have travel insurance? Claim it!

The problem you are facing is that a dispute over BZ$ 5,000 has to go to the Supreme court in Belize (not the Magistrate's court in San Pedro). Now the Supreme court is years behind in its cases, so the earliest your case will be done is probably in 1 to 3 years - with smart lawyers it can take 5 years or more. I guess you don't want to extend your stay here that long.

As a foreigner having a dispute with a Belizean entity, it is the court's obligation to make sure that either party can fulfill the debts that are being claimed. When you leave the country you are out of the jurisdiction of the Belize court and then you might decide not to come back.

The only way you will be allowed to leave the country is when you put up a Security of Funds for the amount claimed plus the legal costs the other party may incur when you loose. On top of that you have to pay for your lawyer and I don't think they will start a Supreme court case with a deposit lower than US$ 5,000.

This system is not unique to Belize, in fact I think any country (including the USA) has similar protections in place for their citizens.

Don't take my word for it - I am not a lawyer, nor a specialist - ask an attorney. Keep in mind that whatever the Police tells you is worth near to nothing, as the Judge has to make a final decision (and that can take years).

An other idea is to contact the Belize Tourism Board; they can make a quick decision and their judgment weighs heavily as they are part of the Government, in charge of Tourism. Always keep in mind though, that if the golf cart company insists it can still put the ruling of the BTB aside and go to court.

Short

Live and let live