Is it legal to bring pepper spray into the country and carry for protection?

Technically it is considered a firearm according to Belize law I have been advised, although it is openly for sale in some places.

This is from the Belize Firearms Act

"16.-(1) No person may without the authority of the Minister import, manufacture,
sell, purchase, carry or have in his possession any weapon, of
whatever description, designed for the discharge of any noxious liquid, gas
or other thing, or any ammunition containing or designed or adapted to
contain any such noxious thing.
(2) Every person who contravenes this section shall be guilty of an
offence."

Well, noxious is defined as:

"physically harmful or destructive to living beings"

So by that definition, pepper spray which is an inflammatory agent would be illegal but Mace which is simply an irritant would not be???

Generally in most states in the US where Mace is illegal, pepper spray is not.

Is the law interpreted to exclude all self defense sprays whether noxious or not?

Yes

How about a squirt bottle of Tabasco sauce???

"or adapted to contain any such noxious thing."

GOB is just really pro robbery I guess.

You can buy pepper spray at Captain sharks. It has pepper spray, a black light ink, and tear gas all combined. Around $30USD
That stuff is so potent, they'll be lying on the ground so long even the San Pedro police will make it in time to arrest them! (haha)

I would buy it when you get here if you are worried about bringing it on the plane.

If it's illegal, I'm not interested in buying it while I'm there either.

I just know that I'll be carrying about 5k worth of camera equipment around with me while I'm there and this time I won't have the security of the crowd like I normally do as I'll be traveling alone. Was hoping to have some defense besides a few curse words and an oddly feminine punch or two.

How about one of those super razzoo sling shots with surgical rubber and some ball bearings?