(a)    a sole arbitrator appointed by the Governor-General;

(b)    an arbitrator appointed by the Governor-General, assisted by one or more assessors nominated by or on behalf of the employers concerned and an equal number of assessors nominated by or on behalf of the workmen concerned, all of whom shall be appointed by the Governor-General:

Provided that the award shall be made and issued by the arbitrator only; or

(c)    one or more arbitrators nominated by or on behalf of the employers concerned and an equal number of arbitrators nominated by or on behalf of the workmen concerned, and an independent chairman, all of whom shall be appointed by the Governor-General:

Provided that where all the members of the tribunal are unable to agree as to their award, the matter shall be decided by the chairman as sole arbitrator.

Conciliation before reference.
5.        If there are existing in any trade or industry any arrangements for settlement by conciliation or arbitration of disputes in such trade or industry, or any branch thereof, made in pursuance of an agreement between organisations of employers and organisations of workmen representative respectively of substantial proportions of the employers and workmen engaged in that trade or industry, the Governor-General shall not, unless with the consent of both parties to the dispute, and unless and until there has been a failure to obtain a settlement by means of those arrangements, refer the matter for settlement in accordance with the provisions of section 4.

Vacancies on tribunal.
6. (1)         Whenever an arbitration tribunal consists of more than on one arbitrator and any vacancy occurs in their number the tribunal may, with the consent of the parties, act notwithstanding such vacancy.

6. (2)        Whenever the tribunal consists of an arbitrator assisted by assessors and any vacancy occurs in the number of assessors the tribunal may, in the discretion of the arbitrator, either act notwithstanding such vacancy or consent to another assessor being nominated and appointed to fill such vacancy.

6. (3)        No act, proceeding or determination of the tribunal shall be called in question or invalidated by reason of any such vacancy, provided that, in the circumstances referred to in sub(1), the required consent has been first obtained.

Award not to conflict with any law.
7.        Where any trade dispute referred to an arbitration tribunal involves questions as to wages, or as to hours of work, or otherwise as to the terms or conditions of or affecting employment which are regulated by an Act, other than this Act, the tribunal shall not make any award which is inconsistent with the provisions of that Act.

Publication of award.
8.        Any award of an arbitration tribunal shall be submitted to the Governor-General who shall, as soon as possible thereafter, cause the same to be published in such manner as he thinks fit.

Interpretation of award.
9.        If any question arises as to the interpretation of any award of an arbitration tribunal, the Governor-General, or any party to the award, may apply to the tribunal for a decision on such question, and the tribunal shall decide the matter after hearing the parties, or without such hearing provided the consent of the parties has first been obtained. The decision of the tribunal shall be notified to the parties and shall be deemed to form pan of, and shall have the same effect in all respects as, the original award.

Inquiry into trade disputes and appointment of board of inquiry.
10. (1)     Where any trade dispute exists, or is apprehended, the Governor-General may, whether or not the dispute is reported to him under this Act, inquire into the causes and circumstances of the dispute, and, if he thinks fit, refer any matters appearing to him to be connected with, or relevant to, the dispute to a board of inquiry (hereinafter referred to as the board) appointed by him for the purpose of such reference, and the board shall inquire into the matters referred to it and report thereon to the Governor-General.

10. (2)        The Governor-General may also refer any matter connected with the economic or industrial conditions in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the board for inquiry and report.

10. (3)        The board shall consist of a Chairman and such other persons the Governor-General thinks fit to appoint, or may, if the Governor-General thinks fit, consist of one person appointed by the Governor-General.

10. (4)        The board may alit notwithstanding any vacancy in their number.

Reports of boards.
11. (1)     A board of inquiry may, if it thinks fit, make interim reports.

11. (2)        Any report of the board, and any minority report, shall be submitted to the Governor-General.

11. (3)        The Governor-General may cause to be published from time to time, in such manner as he thinks fit, any information obtained or conclusion arrived at by the board as the result, or in the course, of inquiry:

Provided that there shall not be included in any report or publication, made or authorised by the board or the Governor-General, any information obtained by the board in the course of the inquiry as to any trade union or as to any individual business (whether carried on by a person, firm or company) which is not available otherwise than through evidence given at the inquiry, except with the consent of the secretary of the trade union or of the person, firm or company in question, nor shall any individual member of the board, or any person concerned in the inquiry, without such consent, disclose any such information.

Evidence.
12. For the purpose of dealing with any matter referred to it, an arbitration tribunal or a board of inquiry, as the case may be, shall have full power, by order, to require any person to furnish, in writing or otherwise, such particulars, in relation to such matter as the tribunal or the board may require, and where necessary to attend before the tribunal or the board and give evidence on oath or otherwise, and to require the production of documents, so as to elicit all such information as in the circumstances may be considered necessary, without being bound by the rules of evidence in civil or criminal proceedings:

Provided always that, if any witness objects to answer any question or to produce any document on the ground that it will tend to incriminate him, or on any other lawful ground, he shall not be required to answer such question or to produce such document, nor shall he be liable to any penalties for refusing to do so.

Legal representation.
13.        It shall be in the discretion of an arbitration tribunal or a board of inquiry, as the case may be, to permit any interested party to appear by legal practitioner on any proceedings or inquiry under this Act before such tribunal or board.

Sitting may be public or private.
14. (1)     It shall be in the discretion of an arbitration tribunal or a board of inquiry, as the case may be, to admit or exclude the public or the press from any of its sittings.

14. (2)        Whenever the press shall have been allowed to be present at a sitting of the tribunal or of the board, and not otherwise, a fair and accurate report or summary of the proceedings, including the evidence adduced at that sitting, may be published:

Provided, however, that until the award, or the result of the inquiry, has been published by order of the Governor-General, no comment shall be published in respect of the proceedings or the evidence.

14. (3)        Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub(2) is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of five thousand dollars.

Rules of procedure.
15.        The Governor-General may make rules regulating the procedure to be followed by an arbitration tribunal or a board of inquiry, and whenever any question shall arise in the course of an arbitration or an inquiry in respect of which rules have not been made the tribunal or the board, as the case may be, shall regulate its own procedure.

Expenses.
16.(1)         The Governor-General may pay to any arbitrator or assessor or to any member of a board of inquiry appointed under this Act such remuneration as the Governor-General shall think fit.

16. (2)        The Governor-General may appoint, at such remuneration and on such terms and conditions as he may determine, such officers and other servants as may be necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

16. (3)        Any expenses incurred in carrying this Act into operation and approved of by the Governor-General shall be paid out of the Consolidated Fund on the warrant of the Governor-General.