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How to Exercise Statutory Powers Properly

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Contents

Cases.......................................................................................xviiLegislation.................................................................................xxxvForeword....................................................................................xlvPreface.....................................................................................xlviiAcknowledgements............................................................................liChapter 1 Introduction......................................................................11.1 What this book is about.................................................................11.2 Human rights and the Constitution.......................................................21.3 European human rights standards in Cayman...............................................51.4 What is judicial review?................................................................71.5 Acts and authorities that are subject to judicial review................................71.6 Obtaining leave to apply for judicial review............................................221.7 Difference between appeal and judicial review...........................................231.8 Circumstances that may preclude judicial review.........................................251.9 Who can apply for judicial review?......................................................371.10 What the court considers before granting leave to apply for review.....................48Chapter 2 Grounds of Review.................................................................572.1 Exceeding the limits of power...........................................................572.2 Delegating powers which should not be delegated.........................................602.3 Rules of natural justice and legitimate expectation.....................................642.4 Abuse of discretion.....................................................................1022.5 Abdication of authority.................................................................1272.6 International conventions...............................................................1282.7 Caribbean Community law.................................................................132Chapter 3 Miscellaneous matters.............................................................1393.1 Policy matters that are not for review..................................................1393.2 Exclusion of, and time limits for, judicial review......................................1403.3 Orders that a court can issue...........................................................1453.4 Termination of public officers: legal effects and remedies..............................148Chapter 4 Office of the Complaints Commissioner.............................................1574.1 History of Ombudsmen....................................................................1574.2 Establishment, appointment and functions of Commissioner................................1584.3 How investigations are requested, initiated and handled.................................1634.4 Who can complain and how long after the fact?...........................................1714.5 Final result of a complaint.............................................................1724.6 Protection against defamation laws......................................................1744.7 Appeals from the Commissioner's decisions...............................................175Appendix: Judicial review procedures........................................................179A.1 Consolidation of actions................................................................179A.2 Damages.................................................................................179A.3 Declaration.............................................................................180A.4 Delay...................................................................................180A.5 Disclosure of evidence..................................................................182A.6 Discovery...............................................................................183A.7 Ex parte proceedings....................................................................184A.8 Habeus Corpus...........................................................................186A.9 Joinder of parties......................................................................187A.10 Leave to apply.........................................................................188A.11 Stay of proceedings....................................................................191A.12 Time limit.............................................................................191Bibliography................................................................................193Index.......................................................................................195

Chapter One

1.1 What this book is about

Outside of Imperial Legislation, that is, legislation promulgated by the British Government and applied to the Cayman Islands, legislative power in the Islands is exercised through Laws passed by the Legislative Assembly. It is also exercised through the making of regulations by other public authorities, usually the Governor in Cabinet. On the executive side, in exercise of statutory or inherent powers, the government exercises power through the grant or rendering of other decisions relating to licences, the award of contracts, and numerous other classes of decisions made through a range of public authorities. These other authorities include not just the Governor in Cabinet, but also the Governor acting alone, certain individuals in government, bodies set up under the Constitution, ministries, portfolios, departments, statutory authorities, government companies, tribunals and other state agencies exercising powers of a governmental nature. Courts constitute a part, albeit a special part, of these structures in that they make rules of procedure governing their proceedings. All these public authorities, including courts, must exercise their powers in accordance with the Constitution of the Cayman Islands. Specifically in relation to public officials, the Constitution provides:

"19.—(1) All decisions and acts of public officials must be lawful, rational, proportionate and procedurally fair.

(2) Every person whose interests have been adversely affected by such a decision or act has the right to request and be given written reasons for that decision or act."

Broadly speaking, this section of the Constitution covers the whole field of what is known as administrative law. In subsection (1), "lawful" means that officials must observe not only the Constitution and the letter of the relevant law, but also certain implied principles and rules developed by the courts. The requirement that a decision be "rational" loosely approximates to proper exercise of discretion or avoiding abuse, discussed under heading 2.4, and the concept of proportionality is discussed under heading 2.4.5. Procedural fairness is considered under heading 2.1.2 though the constitutional concept appears to be wider than that of procedural vires discussed there. The duty to give reasons, referred to in subsection (2), is considered under heading 2.4.10. Guided by these and other considerations, the exercise of government power is controlled or...