This book outlines the way in which legislative proposals in Jamaica are conceived and processed. It also contains best practice suggestions on working with Parliamentary Counsel. Those suggestions are based on the author's well-received earlier publication The Legislative Process: A Handbook for Public Officials (2009). That book was featured significantly in The Parliamentarian: Journal of Commonwealth Parliaments, 2010, Issue 1 XCI. In a review contained in The Loophole: Journal of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel (August, 2010), the reviewer wrote, "In these times of recession I commend this book to anyone in Government wishing to improve processes to enable the production of legislation with improved efficiency and cost effectiveness." And in the Statute Law Review (April, 2010), 31(2), with reference to its suggestions for improved efficiency, it was said that ..". there is little that can be described as other than good advice here."

In How to Properly Exercise Statutory Powers, you will find a synthesis of the principles and rules that courts in the Cayman Islands, as well as the House of Lords (now the Supreme Court of the UK) and the UK Privy Council, apply in curbing excesses of power. The author believes it is the first work ever on Caymanian Administrative Law. The principles and rules are discussed in a manner intended to make it easy for non-lawyers to understand but without sacrificing legal accuracy. Though written primarily for the general public in terms of its plain style, it is hoped that attorneys will also find it useful as a quick reference. Further, because it also discusses the law as it has evolved from its British origins to date, other British Overseas Territories and generally other countries in the Commonwealth may find it helpful. Students may also find that its brevity makes for a useful revision tool. There is also a special chapter on the Office of the Complaints Commissioner. Comments on the book may be sent to [email protected]

The complexity of laws is always a controversial issue. Many argue that laws are unduly complex while others assert that the complexity is unavoidable and that so-called legal language has to remain because of hallowed linguistic tradition. As with most things, the answer lies somewhere in between. Laws cannot be made to be simpler than their subject matter. The best that a legislative drafter can do is to make a law as simple as possible. There are many books respectively on the drafting of laws and the interpretation of statutes. However, these books are bulky and meant only for lawyers or law students. This book is written by a person who, after decades of drafting laws and giving legal advice, found that officials who made legislative proposals and reviewed drafts prepared by him would greatly benefit from a book that gives, in one reasonably-sized volume, the most essential written-language skills and the most frequently encountered rules of statutory interpretation. Without these skills, it is difficult for such officials to meaningfully review drafts. Before going into these areas, he examines the pros and cons of the plain English movement and then applies a plain language approach to his content on how laws are written and should be written. In addition, there are many professionals in fields other than legislative drafting who are engaged to drafts laws. And yet knowledge of the subject matter of a proposed law does not make one fully competent to draft it. In order for such professionals to prepare respectable drafts, they need general legislative drafting skills. This volume contains the basic skills necessary for any professional in a substantive subject matter to be better able to write legislation in that area. It will also help any member of the public who has to pay for legal advice on certain simple matters which he could figure out for himself if only he knew some simple rules applied in the interpretation of statutes.

This book outlines the way in which legislative proposals in Trinidad and Tobago are conceived and processed. It also contains best practice suggestions on interfacing with Parliamentary Counsel regardless of the jurisdiction in which one is working. Those suggestions are based on the author's well-received earlier publication The Legislative Process: A Handbook for Public Officials (2009). That book was featured significantly in The Parliamentarian: Journal of Commonwealth Parliaments, 2010, Issue 1 XCI. In a review contained in The Loophole: Journal of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel (August, 2010), the reviewer wrote, "In these times of recession I commend this book to anyone in Government wishing to improve processes to enable the production of legislation with improved efficiency and cost effectiveness." And in the Statute Law Review (April, 2010), 31(2), with reference to its suggestions for improved efficiency, it was said that ." . . there is little that can be described as other than good advice here."

People are generally aware that legislation is introduced through Bills that are sent to the legislature, usually by the executive, and then passed into law. Few, however, are familiar with the processes that precede the submission of a Bill to the legislature. In fact, what eventually comes to the legislature is the product of long, often laborious processes, which go on for weeks, months and even years. To ensure that the civil servants and others who may be involved in shaping proposals are able to candidly express their views on policies that are being developed and refined, the deliberations on the executive side of government traditionally take place in secrecy. Mainly for that reason, the processes are not well known to the general public and even to some activists who lobby for or against legislation. This book, written by a lawyer who has long experience participating in these processes, gives rare insight into how legislative proposals are conceived, developed and finally written into the law. It also contains easy-to- understand technical information that explains the significance of certain features of statutes. Further, it deals with other matters that follow after enactment including publication, entry into force, application and much more.

This book is an insider's account of the way legislative proposals in the Cayman Islands are conceived and processed, as well as the operational context in which the resultant laws are drafted. It is based on the author's well-received earlier publication The Legislative Process: A Handbook for Public Officials (2009). That book was featured significantly in The Parliamentarian: Journal of Commonwealth Parliaments, 2010, Issue 1 XCI. In a review contained in The Loophole: Journal of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel (August, 2010), the reviewer wrote, "In these times of recession I commend this book to anyone in Government wishing to improve processes to enable the production of legislation with improved efficiency and cost effectiveness." And in the Statute Law Review (April, 2010), 31(2), with reference to its suggestions for improved efficiency, it was said that ." . . there is little that can be described as other than good advice here."

This book outlines the way in which legislative proposals in the British Virgin Islands are conceived and processed. It also contains best practice suggestions on interfacing with Parliamentary Counsel regardless of the jurisdiction in which one is working. Those suggestions are based on the author's well-received earlier publication The Legislative Process: A Handbook for Public Officials (2009). That book was featured significantly in The Parliamentarian: Journal of Commonwealth Parliaments, 2010, Issue 1 XCI. In a review contained in The Loophole: Journal of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel (August, 2010), the reviewer wrote, "In these times of recession I commend this book to anyone in Government wishing to improve processes to enable the production of legislation with improved efficiency and cost effectiveness." And in the Statute Law Review (April, 2010), 31(2), with reference to its suggestions for improved efficiency, it was said that ." . . there is little that can be described as other than good advice here."

This book outlines the way in which legislative proposals in Trinidad and Tobago are conceived and processed. It also contains best practice suggestions on interfacing with Parliamentary Counsel regardless of the jurisdiction in which one is working. Those suggestions are based on the author's well-received earlier publication The Legislative Process: A Handbook for Public Officials (2009). That book was featured significantly in The Parliamentarian: Journal of Commonwealth Parliaments, 2010, Issue 1 XCI. In a review contained in The Loophole: Journal of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel (August, 2010), the reviewer wrote, "In these times of recession I commend this book to anyone in Government wishing to improve processes to enable the production of legislation with improved efficiency and cost effectiveness." And in the Statute Law Review (April, 2010), 31(2), with reference to its suggestions for improved efficiency, it was said that ." . . there is little that can be described as other than good advice here."

This book is an insider's account of the way legislative proposals in the Cayman Islands are conceived and processed, as well as the operational context in which the resultant laws are drafted. It is based on the author's well-received earlier publication The Legislative Process: A Handbook for Public Officials (2009). That book was featured significantly in The Parliamentarian: Journal of Commonwealth Parliaments, 2010, Issue 1 XCI. In a review contained in The Loophole: Journal of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel (August, 2010), the reviewer wrote, "In these times of recession I commend this book to anyone in Government wishing to improve processes to enable the production of legislation with improved efficiency and cost effectiveness." And in the Statute Law Review (April, 2010), 31(2), with reference to its suggestions for improved efficiency, it was said that ." . . there is little that can be described as other than good advice here."

This book outlines the way in which legislative proposals in the British Virgin Islands are conceived and processed. It also contains best practice suggestions on interfacing with Parliamentary Counsel regardless of the jurisdiction in which one is working. Those suggestions are based on the author's well-received earlier publication The Legislative Process: A Handbook for Public Officials (2009). That book was featured significantly in The Parliamentarian: Journal of Commonwealth Parliaments, 2010, Issue 1 XCI. In a review contained in The Loophole: Journal of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel (August, 2010), the reviewer wrote, "In these times of recession I commend this book to anyone in Government wishing to improve processes to enable the production of legislation with improved efficiency and cost effectiveness." And in the Statute Law Review (April, 2010), 31(2), with reference to its suggestions for improved efficiency, it was said that ." . . there is little that can be described as other than good advice here."

This book outlines the way in which legislative proposals in Jamaica are conceived and processed. It also contains best practice suggestions on working with Parliamentary Counsel. Those suggestions are based on the author's well-received earlier publication The Legislative Process: A Handbook for Public Officials (2009). That book was featured significantly in The Parliamentarian: Journal of Commonwealth Parliaments, 2010, Issue 1 XCI. In a review contained in The Loophole: Journal of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel (August, 2010), the reviewer wrote, "In these times of recession I commend this book to anyone in Government wishing to improve processes to enable the production of legislation with improved efficiency and cost effectiveness." And in the Statute Law Review (April, 2010), 31(2), with reference to its suggestions for improved efficiency, it was said that ..". there is little that can be described as other than good advice here."

In How to Properly Exercise Statutory Powers, you will find a synthesis of the principles and rules that courts in the Cayman Islands, as well as the House of Lords (now the Supreme Court of the UK) and the UK Privy Council, apply in curbing excesses of power. The author believes it is the first work ever on Caymanian Administrative Law. The principles and rules are discussed in a manner intended to make it easy for non-lawyers to understand but without sacrificing legal accuracy. Though written primarily for the general public in terms of its plain style, it is hoped that attorneys will also find it useful as a quick reference. Further, because it also discusses the law as it has evolved from its British origins to date, other British Overseas Territories and generally other countries in the Commonwealth may find it helpful. Students may also find that its brevity makes for a useful revision tool. There is also a special chapter on the Office of the Complaints Commissioner. Comments on the book may be sent to [email protected]

People are generally aware that legislation is introduced through Bills that are sent to the legislature, usually by the executive, and then passed into law. Few, however, are familiar with the processes that precede the submission of a Bill to the legislature. In fact, what eventually comes to the legislature is the product of long, often laborious processes, which go on for weeks, months and even years. To ensure that the civil servants and others who may be involved in shaping proposals are able to candidly express their views on policies that are being developed and refined, the deliberations on the executive side of government traditionally take place in secrecy. Mainly for that reason, the processes are not well known to the general public and even to some activists who lobby for or against legislation. This book, written by a lawyer who has long experience participating in these processes, gives rare insight into how legislative proposals are conceived, developed and finally written into the law. It also contains easy-to- understand technical information that explains the significance of certain features of statutes. Further, it deals with other matters that follow after enactment including publication, entry into force, application and much more.

The complexity of laws is always a controversial issue. Many argue that laws are unduly complex while others assert that the complexity is unavoidable and that so-called legal language has to remain because of hallowed linguistic tradition. As with most things, the answer lies somewhere in between. Laws cannot be made to be simpler than their subject matter. The best that a legislative drafter can do is to make a law as simple as possible. There are many books respectively on the drafting of laws and the interpretation of statutes. However, these books are bulky and meant only for lawyers or law students. This book is written by a person who, after decades of drafting laws and giving legal advice, found that officials who made legislative proposals and reviewed drafts prepared by him would greatly benefit from a book that gives, in one reasonably-sized volume, the most essential written-language skills and the most frequently encountered rules of statutory interpretation. Without these skills, it is difficult for such officials to meaningfully review drafts. Before going into these areas, he examines the pros and cons of the plain English movement and then applies a plain language approach to his content on how laws are written and should be written. In addition, there are many professionals in fields other than legislative drafting who are engaged to drafts laws. And yet knowledge of the subject matter of a proposed law does not make one fully competent to draft it. In order for such professionals to prepare respectable drafts, they need general legislative drafting skills. This volume contains the basic skills necessary for any professional in a substantive subject matter to be better able to write legislation in that area. It will also help any member of the public who has to pay for legal advice on certain simple matters which he could figure out for himself if only he knew some simple rules applied in the interpretation of statutes.