Proceedings before the Commission

(1) Where powers are conferred upon the Commission under this Act to make regulations or any other form of subsidiary legislation subject to the approval of the Minister, the Commission shall not submit such regulations to the Minister for approval without first circulating for comments the final draft copies of such regulations or other subsidiary legislation to any interested person, and without genuinely consulting with such person and taking such person’s views and comments into account. (2) Where powers are conferred upon the Commission under this Act to make regulations or any other form of subsidiary legislation, and where provision is made that such regulations or subsidiary legislation shall, after signature by the Commission, come into force upon publication in the Gazette, the Commission shall not cause such regulations or subsidiary legislation to be published in the Gazette without first circulating for comments the final draft copies thereof to any interested person, and without genuinely consulting with such person and taking such person’s views and comments into account, Provided that the Commission, after consulting any interested person under this sub-section or sub-section (1), shall not be obliged to follow the views or comments of that person. (3) Where powers are conferred upon the Commission under this Act or any subsidiary legislation made thereunder to make any Orders or decisions, or to give or issue any directives to any person, the Commission shall not make such Orders or decisions, or give or issue such directives without first giving notice to, and inviting comments from, any person who may be interested or affected by such Orders, decisions or directives. (4) The notice referred to in sub-section (3) shall be published by the Commission through such medium as is likely 17 to reach the largest number of persons in Belize, and shall additionally specify– (a) the last date on which comments should be received by the Commission; (b) the date on which a public hearing will be held, if interested persons so request. (5) The Commission may make an Order or a decision, or give a directive without holding a public hearing where no interested party has requested a public hearing pursuant to sub- section (4)(b), or where the reasons stated for the request for a public hearing in any comments received from interested persons pursuant to sub-section (4)(a) are, in the opinion of the Commission, frivolous and vexatious. (6) Any person aggrieved by an Order, decision or directive of the Commission, including a decision relating to the issuance, modification, transfer, suspension, cancellation, withdrawal or refusal of a licence or permit, either generally or conditionally, may apply to the Commission for review of its Order, decision or directive within thirty days of the making of such Order, decision or directive.