Proceedings before the P.U.C

(1) Where powers are conferred upon the P.U.C. under this Act to make Regulations or any other form of subsidiary legislation subject to the approval of the Minister, the P.U.C. shall not submit such Regulations or other form of subsidiary legislation to the Minister for approval without first circulating for comments the final draft copy of such Regulations or other subsidiary legislation to any interested person or body, and without genuinely consulting with such person or body and taking into account the views and comments of such person or body. (2) Where powers are conferred upon the P.U.C. 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 P.U.C., come into force upon publication in the Gazette, the P.U.C. 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 or body, and without genuinely consulting with such person or body and taking the views and comments of such person or body into account, Provided that the P.U.C. after consulting any interested person or body under this sub-section or sub-section (1), shall not be obliged to follow the views or comments of such person or body if it deems it suitable to do so having regard to such views or comments. 27 (3) Where powers are conferred upon the P.U.C. 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 P.U.C. shall not make such Orders or decisions, or give or issue such directives without first giving notice to, and inviting comments from, any person or body 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 P.U.C. through such medium as is likely 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 P.U.C.; and (b) the date on which a public hearing will be held, if interested persons or bodies so request. (5) The P.U.C. may make an order or a decision, or give a directive without holding a public hearing where no interested party or body has requested a public hearing pursuant to sub- section (4), 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 P.U.C., frivolous and vexatious.