Rolle v Esso on the Run — Oakes Field

• Jurisdiction: Bahamas
• Judge: Demeritte-Francis, P.
• Judgment Date: 02 November 2015
• Date: 02 November 2015
• Court: Industrial Court (Bahamas)
• Docket Number: IT/NES/1107/07

Industrial Tribunal

Demeritte-Francis, P.

IT/NES/1107/07

Rolle

and

Esso on the Run — Oakes Field

Appearances:

No Appearance by or on behalf of applicant.

Mr. Paul Mark Hepburn on behalf of respondent.

Employment Law - Industrial dispute — Tribunal Procedure — No appearance on behalf of applicant — Whether originating application filed in accordance with Rule 3(1) of the Industrial Relations (Tribunal Procedure) Rules — Matter dismissed.

Demeritte-Francis, P.

1 (1) By Certificate of Referral dated 8th November, 2007 the Minister referred the subject dispute to the Industrial Tribunal.

2 (2) In accordance with Rule 3(1) of the Industrial Relations (Tribunal Procedure) Rules, 2010 a Notice for an Originating Application — Form A was sent by the Acting Secretary to the Tribunal to the applicant on 6th December, 2007 to the address provided to the Industrial Tribunal on the Trade Dispute.

3 (3) On the 28th January, 2008 and 9th March, 2010 the Secretary to the Tribunal sent two letters requesting that the applicant file the Originating Application in this matter. The Industrial Tribunal has received no response to date.

4 (4) By virtue of rule 3(1) of the Industrial Relations (Tribunal Procedure) Rules, 2010. Rule 3(1) states as follows:

“Where the minister has referred a dispute to the Tribunal pursuant to Section 72 or 73 of the Act, the applicant shall within fourteen days of receiving notice of the referral present to the Secretary an Originating Application in Form A in the schedule, which shall be signed by the applicant.”

5 (5) By virtue of Section 3(3) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act, Chapter 2:

“the word “shall” is to be construed as being mandatory or imperative.”

6 (6) It is clear that it is mandatory for the applicant to file within fourteen days the Originating Application in the Industrial Tribunal Registry.

7 (7) By virtue of Section 7 of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act, Chapter 2, which states as follows:

“Where any written law authorises or requires any documents to be served or any notice to be given by post or registered post, whether the expression “served” or “give” or “send” or any other expression is used the service or notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre-paying the postage there on and dispatching by registered post, as the case may be, to the last known postal address or post office box number of the person...