Arbitration Act (Chapter 110), Barbados

• ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
• Article 1: Short Title
• PART I: Preliminary
  • Article 2: Interpretation
• PART II: Effect of Arbitration Agreements
  • Article 3: Authority of arbitrators and umpires to be revocable
  • Article 4: Death of party
  • Article 5: Bankruptcy of party
  • Article 6: Staying court proceedings where there is submission to arbitration
  • Article 7: Reference to interpleader issues to arbitration
• PART III: Arbitrators and Umpires
  • Article 8: Reference to single arbitrator
  • Article 9: Power of parties in certain cases to supply vacancy
  • Article 10: Appointment of Umpires
  • Article 11: Agreements for reference to three arbitrators
  • Article 12: Power of court in certains cases to appoint an arbitrator or umpire
  • Article 13: Reference to official referee
• PART IV: Conduct of Proceedings and Provisions as to Awards
  • Article 14: Conduct of proceedings, summoning of witnesses and making of orders
  • Article 15: Time for making award
  • Article 16: Removal by court of arbitrator or umpire for dilatoriness or misconduct
  • Article 17: Interim awards
  • Article 18: Specific performance
  • Article 19: Award to be final
  • Article 20: Power to correct slips
  • PART V: Costs, Fees and Interest
  • Article 21: Costs
  • Article 22: Taxation of fees of arbitrator or umpire
  • Article 23: Interest on awards
• PART VI: Special Cases, Remission and setting adide and enforcement of Awards
  • Article 24: Statement of special case
  • Article 25: Power to remit award
  • Article 26: Setting aside award
  • Article 27: Power of court to give relief where arbitrator is not impartial of the dispute involves a question of fraud
  • Article 28: Power of Court where arbitrator is removed or authority of arbitrator is revoked
  • Article 29: Enforcement of award
• PART VII: References under Order of Court
  • Article 30: Reference for enquiry and report
  • Article 31: Reference for trial
  • Article 32: Powers and remuneration of referees and arbitrators
  • Article 33: Court to have powers as in references by consent
  • Article 34: Powers of Court of Appeal
• PART VIII: Miscellaneous
  • Article 35: Power of court to extend time for commencing arbitration proceedings
  • Article 36: Terms as to costs
  • Article 37: Crown to be bound
  • Article 38: Application of Act to references under statutory powers
  • 39. Saving for pending arbitrations

Arbitration CAP. 110

CHAPTER 110 ARBITRATION

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION

1. Short title.

PART I

Preliminary

2. Interpretation.

PART 11

Effect of Arbitration Agreements

1. Authority of arbitrators and umpires to be irrevocable.

2. Death of party.

3. Bankruptcy of party.

4. Staying court proceedings where there is submission to arbitration.

5. Reference of interpleader issues to arbitration.

PART III

Arbitrators and Umpires

1. Reference to single arbitrator.

2. Power of parties in certain cases to supply vacancy.

3. Appointment of umpires.

4. Agreements for reference to three arbitrators.

5. Powers of court in certain cases to appoint an arbitrator or umpire.

6. Reference to official referee.

PART IV Conduct of proceedings and Provisions as to Awards

1. Conduct of proceedings, summoning of witnesses and making of orders.

2. Time for making award.

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SECTION

1. Removal by court of arbitrator or umpire for dilatoriness or mis· conduct.

2. Interim awards.

3. Specific performance.

4. Awards to be final.

5. Power to correct slips.

PART V

Costs, Fees and Interest

1. Costs.

2. Taxation of fees of arbitrators or umpire.

3. Interest on awards. PART VI

Special Cases, Remission and setting aside and enforcement of Awards

1. Statement of special case.

2. Power to remit award.

3. Setting aside award.

Power of court to give relief where arbitrator is not impartial or the dispute involves question of fraud.

1. Power of court where arbitrator is removed or authority of arbitrator is revoked.

2. Enforcement of award.

PART VII

References under Order of Court

1. Reference for enquiry and report.

2. Reference for trial.

3. Powers and remuneration of referees and arbitrators.

4. Court to have powers as in references by consent.

5. Powers of Court of Appeal.

PART VIII

Miscellaneous

35. Power of court to extend time for commencing arbitration proceedings.

Arbitration CAP. 110

SECTION

1. Terms as to costs.

2. Crown to be bound.

3. Application of Act to references under statutory powers.

4. Saving for pending arbitrations.

5. Rules.

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1958-23.

CHAPTER 110

L.N.1968{1967.

ARBITRATION

An Act to make provision for Arbitrations.

[15th August, 1958]

Commencement.

1. This Act may be cited as the Arbitration Act.

Short title.

PART I

Preliminary

2. For the purposes of this Act, the expression-

Inter"arbitration agreement" means a written agreement to pretation. submit present or future differences to arbitration, whether an arbitrator is named therein or not;

" Court " means the High Court or a Judge;

L.N.168{ " reference" means a reference under an order made by the ¹⁹⁶7. Court.

PART II

Effect of Arbitration Agreements

3. The authority of an arbitrator or umpire appointed by Auority of or by virtue of an arbitration agreement shall, unless a contrary ^atr intention is expresssed in the agreement, be irrevocable except o beu ^eo

lr_revocable.

by leave of the Court.

4. (1) An arbitration agreement shall not be discharged Death of by the death of any party thereto, either as respects the deceased ^party. or any other party, but shall in such an event be enforceable by or against the personal representative of the deceased.

(2)

The authority of an arbitrator shall not be revoked by the death of any party by whom he was appointed.

(3)

Nothing in this section shall be taken to affect the operation of any enactment or rule of law by virtue of which any right of action is extinguished by the death of a person.

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by authority oC the Government oC Barbados

Bankruptcy

of party.

Staying court

proceedings

where there

is submission ^toarbitration.

Reference of

interpleader

issues to

arbitra tion.

5. (1) 'Where it is provided by a term in a contract to which a bankrupt is a party that any differences arising thereout or in connection therewith shall be referred to arbitration, the said term shall, if the trustee in bankruptcy adopts the contract, be enforceable by or against him so far as relates to any such differences.

(2) Where a person who has been adjudged bankrupt had, before the commencement of the bankruptcy, become a party to an arbitration agreement, and any matter to which the agreement applies requires to be determined in connection with or for the purposes of the bankruptcy proceedings, then, if the case is one to which subsection (I) does not apply, any other party to the agreement or, with the consent of the committee of inspection, the trustee in bankruptcy, may apply to a court for an order directing that the matter in question shall be referred to arbitration in accordance with the agreement, and that court may, if it is of opinion that, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, the matter ought to be determined by arbitration, make an order accordingly.

1. Where any party to an arbitration agreement, or any person claiming through or under him, Icommences any legal proceedings in any court against any other party to the agreement, or any person claiming through or under him, in respect of any matter agreed to be referred, any party to those legal proceedings may at any time after appearance and before delivering any pleadings or taking any other steps in the proceedings, apply to that court to stay the proceedings, and that court or a judge thereof, if satisfied that there is no sufficient reason why the matter should not be referred in accordance with the agreement, and that the applicant was, at the time when the proceedings were commenced, and still remains, ready and willing to do all things necessary to the proper conduct of the arbitration, may make an order staying the proceedings.

2. Where relief by way of interpleader is granted and it appears to the Court that the claims in question are matters to which an arbitration agreement, to which the claimants are parties, applies, the Court may direct the issue between the claimants to be determined in accordance with the agreement.

PART III

Arbitrators and Umpires

8. Unlesi a contrary intention is expressed therein, every Reference

to single

arbitration agreement shall, where no other mode of reference

arbitrator.

is provided, be deemed to include a provision that the reference shall be to a single arbitrator.

9. (I) "Vhere an arbitration agreement provides that the ^{Power of}

parties in

reference shall be to two arbitrators, one to be appointed by certain cases each party, then, unless a contrary intention is expressed ^{to supply}

vacancy.

therein

(a)

if either of the appointed arbitrators refuses to act, or is incapable of acting, or dies, the party who appointed him may appoint a new arbitrator in his place;

(b)

if, on such a reference, one party fails to appoint an arbitrator, either originally, or by way of substitution as aforesaid, for seven clear days after the other party, having appointed his arbitrator, has served the party making default with notice to make the appointment, the party who has appointed an arbitrator may appoint that arbitrator to act as sole arbitrator in the reference and his award shall be binding on both parties as if he had been appointed by consent.

(2)

The Court may set aside any appointment made in pursuance of subsection (I).

10. (1) Unless a contrary intention is expressed therein, ^Appoint

ment of

every arbitration agreement shall, where the reference is to umpires.

two arbitrators, be deemed to include a provision that the two

arbitrators shall appoint an umpire immediately after they are themselves appointed.

(2)

Unless a contrary intention is expressed therein, every arbitration agreement shall, where such a provision is applicable to the reference, be deemed to include a provision that if the arbitrators have delivered to any party to the arbitration agreement, or to the umpire, a notice in writing stating that they cannot agree, the umpire may forthwith enter on the reference in lieu of the arbitrators.

(3)

At any time after the appointment of an umpire, how-

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by authority of the Government of Barbados

Laws of Barbados-Val. IIISjg. 5

Agreements

for reference

to three

arbitrators.

Power of

court in

certain cases

to appoint

an arbitrator

or umpire.

ever appointed, the Court may, on the application of any party to the reference and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the arbitration agreement, order that the umpire shall enter upon the reference in lieu of the arbitrators and as if he were a sole arbitrator.

11. (1) Where an arbitration agreement provides that the reference shall be to three arbitrators, one to be appointed by each party and the third to be appointed by the two appointed by the parties, the agreement shall have effect as if it provided for the appointment of an umpire, and not for the appointment of a third arbitrator, by the two arbitrators appointed by the parties.

(2) ''\There an arbitration agreement provides that the reference shall be to three arbitrators to be appointed otherwise than as mentioned in subsection (1), the award of any two of the arbitrators shall be binding.

12. In any of the following cases

(a)

where an arbitration agreement provides that reference shall be to a single arbitrator, and all the parties do not, after differences have arisen, concur in the appointment of an arbitrator;

(b)

where an appointed arbitrator refuses to act, or is incapable of acting, or dies, and the arbitration agreement does not show that it was intended that the vacancy should not be supplied and the parties do not supply the vacancy;

(c)

where the parties or two arbitrators are at liberty to appoint an umpire or third arbitrator and do not appoint him, or 'where two arbitrators are required to appoint an umpire and do not appoint him;

(d)

where an appointed umpire or third arbitrator refuses to act, or is incapable of acting, or dies, and the arbitration agreement does not show that it was intended that the vacancy should not be supplied, and the parties or arbitrators do not supply the vacancy,

any party may serve the other parties or the arbitrators, as the case may be, with a written notice to appoint, or as the case may be, concur in appointing, an arbitrator, umpire or third arbitrator, and if the appointment is not made within seven clear days after the service of the notice, the Court may on application by the party who gave the notice, appoint an arbitrator, umpire or third arbitrator who shall have the like powers to act in the reference and make an award as if he had been appointed by consent of all parties.

13. Where an arbitration agreement provides that the Reference to

official

reference shall be to an official referee, any official referee to

referee.

whom application is made, shall, subject to any order of the Court as to transfer or otherwise, hear and determine the matters agreed to be referred.

PART IV

Conduct of Proceedings and Provisions as to Awards

14. (I) Unless a contrary intention is expressed therein, Conduct of

proceedings,

every arbitration agreement shall, where such a provision is

summoning

applicable to the reference, be deemed to contain a provision of witnesses

and making

that-

of orders.

(a)

the parties to the reference, and all persons claiming through them respectively, shall, subject to any legal objection, submit to be examined by the arbitrator or umpire, on oath or affirmation, in relation to the matters in dispute, and shall, subject as aforesaid, produce before the arbitrator or umpire all documents within their possession or power respectively which may be required or called for, and do all other things which during the proceedings on the reference the arbitrator or umpire may require, and

(b)

the witnesses on the reference shall, if the arbitrator or umpire thinks fit, be examined on oath or affirmation.

(2)

An arbitrator or umpire shall, unless a contrary intention is expressed in the arbitration agreement, have power to administer oaths to, or take the affirmations of, the parties to and witnesses on a reference under the agreement.

(3)

Any party to a reference under an arbitration agreement may sue out a writ of subpoena ad testificandum or a writ of

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s.14 CAP. 110 Arbitration

subpoena duces tecum, but no person shall be compelled under any such writ to produce any document which he could not be compelled to produce on the trial of an action, and the Court may order that a writ of subpoena ad testificandum or of subpoena duces tecum shall issue to compel the attendance before an arbitrator or umpire of a witness wherever he may be within the Island.

(4)

The Court may order that a writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum shall issue to bring up a prisoner for examination before an arbitrator or umpire.

(5)

The Court shall have, for the purpose of and in relation to a reference, the same power of making orders in respect of-

(a)

security for costs;

(b)

discovery of documents and interrogatories;

(c)

the giving of evidence by affidavit;

(d)

examination on oath of any witness before an officer of the Court or any other person, and the issue of a commission or request for the examination of a witness out of the jurisdiction;

(e)

the preservation, interim custody or sale of any goods which are the subject matter of the reference;

(f)

securing the amount in dispute in the reference;

(g)

the detention, preservation or inspection of any property or thing which is the subject of the reference or as to which any question may arise therein, and authorising for any of the purposes aforesaid any persons to enter upon or into any land or building in the possession of any party to the reference, or authorising any samples to be taken or any observation to be made or experiment to be tried which may be necessary or expedient for the purpose of obtaining full information or evidence; and

(h)

interim injunctions or the appointment of a receiver,

as it has for the purpose of and in relation to an action or matter in the Court.

(6) Nothing in subsection (5) shall be taken to prejudice any power which may be vested in an arbitrator or umpire of making orders with respect to any of the matters mentioned in

this section.

15. (1) Subject to subsection (2) of section 25, and anything Time for

making

to the contrary in the arbitration agreement, an arbitrator or

award.

umpire shall have power to make an award at any time.

(2) The time, if any, limited for making an award, whether under this Act or otherwise, may from time to time be enlarged by order of the Court, whether that time has expired or not.

16. (1) The Court may, on the application of any party to Removal by

court of

a reference, remove an arbitrator or umpire who fails to use

arbitrator or

all reasonable dispatch in entering on and proceeding with umpire for

dilatoriness

the reference and making an award, and an arbitrator or

or mis

umpire who is removed by the Court under this subsection conduct. shall not be entitled to receive any remuneration in respect of his services.

(2)

Where an arbitrator or umpire has misconducted himself or the proceedings, the Court may remove him.

(3)

For the purposes of subsection (1), the expression " proceeding with a reference" includes, in a case where two arbitrators are unable to agree, giving notice of that fact to the parties and to the umpire.

17. Unless a contrary intention is expressed therein, every Interim

awards.

arbitration agreement shall, where such a provision is applicable to the reference, be deemed to contain a provision that the arbitrator or umpire may, if he thinks fit, make an interim award, and any reference in this Act to an award includes a reference to an interim award.

18. Unless a contrary intention is expressed therein, every ^Specific

performance.

arbitration agreement shall, where such a provision is applicable to the reference, be deemed to contain a provision that the arbitrator or umpire shall have the same power as the Court to order specific performance of any contract other than a contract relating to land or any interest in land.

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by authority of the Government of Barbados

Awards to

19. Unless a contrary intention is expressed therein, every

be final.

arbitration agreement shall, where such a provision is applicable to the reference, be deemed to contain a provision that the award to be made by the arbitrator or umpire shall be final and binding on the parties and the persons claiming under them respectively.

Power to

20. Unless a contrary intention is expressed in the arbitra

correct slips.

tion agreement, the arbitrator or umpire shall have power to correct in an award any clerical mistake or error arising from any accidental slip or omission.

PART V

Costs, Fees and Interest

21. (1) Unless a contrary intention is expressed therein, every arbitration agreement shall be deemed to contain a provision that the costs of the reference and award shall be in the discretion of the arbitrator or umpire, who may direct to and by whom and in what manner those costs or any part thereof shall be paid, and may tax or settle the amount of costs to be so paid or any part thereof, and may award costs to be paid as between solicitor and client.

(2)

Any costs directed by an award to be paid shall, unless the award otherwise directs, be taxable in the Court.

(3)

Any provision in an arbitration agreement to the effect that the parties or any party thereto shall in any event pay their or his own costs of the reference or award or any part thereof shall be void, and this Act shall, in the case of an arbitration agreement containing any such provision, have effect as if that provision were not contained therein.

(4)

Nothing in subsection (3) shall invalidate such a provision as is therein mentioned when it is a part of an agreement to submit to arbitration a dispute which has arisen before the making of that agreement.

(5)

Where no provision is made by an award with respect to the costs of the reference, any party to the reference may within fourteen days of the publication of the award or such further time as the Court may direct, apply to the arbitrator

for an order directing by and to whom those costs shall be paid, and thereupon the arbitrator shall, after hearing any party who may desire to be heard, amend his award by adding thereto such directions as he may think proper with respect to the payment of the costs of the reference.

(6) Section 50 of the Solicitors Act (which empowers a Cap. 373. court before which any proceeding is being heard or is pending to charge property recovered or preserved in the proceeding with the payment of solicitors' costs) shall apply as if an arbitration were a proceeding in the Court, and the Court may make declarations and orders accordingly.

22. (1) In any case where an arbitrator or umpire refuses Taxation of to deliver his award except on payment of the fees demanded rb_it_or _or by him, the Court may, on an application for the purpose, umpire. order that the arbitrator or umpire shall deliver the award to the applicant on payment into court by the applicant of the fees demanded, and further that the fees demanded shall be taxed by the taxing officer and that out of the money paid into court there shall be paid out to the arbitrator or umpire by way of fees such sum as may be found reasonable on taxation and that the balance of the money, if ally, shall be paid out to the applicant.

(2)

An application for the purposes of this section may be made by any party to the reference unless the fees demanded have been fixed by a written agreement between him and the arbitrator or umpire.

(3)

A taxation of fees under this section may be reviewed in the same manner as a taxation of costs.

(4)

The arbitrator or umpire shall be entitled to appear and be heard on any taxation or review of taxation under this section.

23. A sum directed to be paid by an award shall, unless the ^{Interest on}