Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2023)

PART IV
ADMINISTRATIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

ARTICLE XIV

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   1.   The competent authorities and institutions responsible for the application of this Agreement:

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      (a)     shall, to the extent permitted by the legislation which they administer, communicate to each other any information necessary for the application of this Agreement;

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      (b)     shall lend their good offices and furnish assistance to one another with regard to the determination or payment of any benefit under this Agreement or the legislation to which this Agreement applies as if the matter involved the application of their own legislation;

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      (c)     shall communicate to each other, as soon as possible, all information about the measures taken by them for the application of this Agreement or about changes in their respective legislation insofar as these changes affect the application of this Agreement.

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   2.   The assistance referred to in subparagraph 1(b) shall be provided free of charge, subject to any agreement reached between the competent authorities of the Parties for the reimbursement of certain types of expenses.

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   3.   Unless disclosure is required under the laws of a Party, any information about an individual which is transmitted in accordance with this Agreement to that Party by the other Party is confidential and shall be used only for purposes of implementing this Agreement and the legislation to which this Agreement applies.

ARTICLE XV

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   1.   The competent authorities of the Parties shall establish, by means of an administrative arrangement, the measures necessary for the application of this Agreement.

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   2.   The liaison agencies of the Parties shall be designated in that arrangement.

ARTICLE XVI

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   1.   Any exemption from or reduction of taxes, legal dues, consular fees or administrative charges for which provision is made in the legislation of one Party in connection with the issuing of any certificate or document required to be produced for the application of that legislation shall be extended to certificates or documents required to be produced for the application of the legislation of the other Party.

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   2.   Any acts or documents of an official nature required to be produced for the application of this Agreement shall be exempt from any authentication by diplomatic or consular authorities or similar formality.

ARTICLE XVII

For the application of this Agreement, the competent authorities and institutions of the Parties may communicate directly with one another in any of the official languages of either Party.

ARTICLE XVIII

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   1.   Any claim, notice or appeal concerning the determination or payment of a benefit under the legislation of one Party which should, for the purposes of that legislation, have been presented within a prescribed period to a competent authority or institution of that Party, but which is presented within the same period to an authority or institution of the other Party, shall be treated as if it had been presented to the competent authority or institution of the first Party.

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   2.   A claim for a benefit under the legislation of one Party shall be deemed to be a claim for the corresponding benefit payable under the legislation of the other Party, provided that the applicant:

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      (a)     requests that it be considered an application under the legislation of the other Party; or

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      (b)     provides information at the time of application indicating that creditable periods have been completed under the legislation of the other Party.

However, the applicant may request that the claim to the benefit under the legislation of the other Party be deferred.

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   3.   In any case to which paragraph 1 or 2 applies, the authority or institution to which the claim, notice or appeal has been submitted shall transmit it without delay to the competent authority or institution of the other Party.

ARTICLE XIX

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   1.   (a)   The competent institution of Canada shall discharge its obligations under this Agreement in the currency of Canada.

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      (b)     The competent institution of Saint Lucia shall discharge its obligations under this Agreement:

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         (i)     in respect of a beneficiary resident in Saint Lucia, in the currency of Saint Lucia;

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         (ii)     in respect of a beneficiary resident in Canada, in the currency of Canada; and

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         (iii)     in respect of a beneficiary resident in a third State, in any currency freely convertible in that State.

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   2.   In the application of sub-paragraphs 1(b)(ii) and (iii), the conversion rate shall be the rate of exchange in effect on the day when the payment is made.

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   3.   Benefits shall be paid to beneficiaries free from any deduction for administrative expenses that may be incurred in paying the benefits.

ARTICLE XX

The competent authorities of the Parties shall resolve, to the extent possible, any difficulties which arise in interpreting or applying this Agreement according to its spirit and fundamental principles.

ARTICLE XXI

The relevant authority of Saint Lucia and a province of Canada may conclude understandings concerning any social security matter within provincial jurisdiction in Canada insofar as those understandings are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.