Tribunal to hear and determine claims
14.—(1)  The Tribunal shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine in accordance with this Act all applications made under this Act.
(2)  Sittings of the Tribunal shall be held at such places and times as the President of the Tribunal may determine.
(3)  Any interested party may be represented before the Tribunal —
(a)by an agent acting without fee, gain, reward or any expectation thereof, in any case in which the Tribunal may at the request of that party and for good reason permit;
(b)if he is an applicant, by the Commissioner;
(c)if he or it is an approved person or organisation, by an employee or officer of the approved person or organisation.
(4)  No party to any proceedings before the Tribunal may be represented by an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court except that the Commissioner may represent the applicant before the Tribunal although he may be an advocate and solicitor.
(5)  Every summons and notice issued under the hand of the Secretary to the Tribunal to any person shall be deemed to be issued by the Tribunal and may be served on that person —
(a)by delivering the summons to the person or to some adult member of his family at his last known place of residence;
(b)by leaving the summons at his usual or last known place of residence or business in an envelope addressed to the person;
(c)by sending the summons by registered post addressed to the person at his usual or last known place of residence or business; or
(d)where the person is a body of persons or a company —
(i)by delivering the summons to the secretary or other like officer of the body of persons or company at its registered office or principal place of business; or
(ii)by sending the summons by registered post addressed to the body of persons or company at its registered office or principal place of business.
(6)  Any summons or notice sent by registered post to any person in accordance with subsection (5) shall be deemed to be duly served on the person to whom the letter is addressed at the time when the letter would in the ordinary course of post be delivered and in proving service of the summons, it shall be sufficient to prove that the envelope containing the summons was properly addressed, stamped and posted by registered post.
(7)  The Tribunal shall have the following powers:
(a)to dismiss frivolous or vexatious claims at a preliminary stage on the basis of the affidavits and other documentary evidence;
(b)to summon any person to appear before a conciliation officer for the purpose of mediation;
(c)to summon any person whom it may consider able to give evidence to attend at the hearing of an application;
(d)to examine such person as a witness either on oath or otherwise and to require such person to produce such records, documents or articles as the Tribunal may think necessary for the purposes of the proceedings;
(e)to allow any person, attending the proceedings any reasonable expenses necessarily incurred by him in so attending to be paid by such party as the Tribunal may determine;
(f)to make an order by consent of the parties; and
(g)all the powers of a District Court with regard to the enforcement of attendance of witnesses, hearing evidence on oath and punishment for contempt.
(8)  Every person examined as a witness by or before the Tribunal, whether on oath or otherwise, shall be legally bound to state the truth and to produce such records, documents or articles as the Tribunal may require.
(9)  The Tribunal shall not be bound by the strict rules of evidence and shall determine the conduct of its proceedings.