Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

60.   Appointment of external auditor

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    (1)   A licensed financial institution or a licensed financial holding company shall appoint annually an external auditor satisfactory to the Central Bank.

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    (2)   An external auditor may not serve for more than 6 consecutive years, however, the lead and concurring audit partner shall be changed every 3 years.

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    (3)   A person may not be appointed as the external auditor if that person has previously been appointed as the external auditor for any of the preceding 5 years.

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    (4)   Prior to appointment, a licensed financial institution or a licensed financial holding company shall give prior notification in writing to the Central Bank of its intention to appoint an external auditor.

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    (5)   The Central Bank shall notify the licensed financial institution or a licensed financial holding company within 30 days if it has an objection to an appointment.

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    (6)   If a licensed financial institution or a licensed financial holding company fails to appoint an external auditor satisfactory to the Central Bank, the Central Bank may appoint an external auditor for the licensed financial institution or licensed financial holding company and the remuneration of the external auditor so appointed shall be determined by the Central Bank and paid by the licensed financial institution or licensed financial holding company.

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    (7)   The Central Bank may at any time appoint an external auditor to conduct an independent audit, a special study, or a diagnostic review of a licensed financial institution or a licensed financial holding company, in accordance with the instructions of the Central Bank, and to report the findings or results to the Central Bank, at the expense of the licensed financial institution or licensed financial holding company.

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    (8)   No director, officer, secretary, employee or agent of a licensed financial institution or a licensed financial holding company, and no person having an interest in any licensed financial institution other than as a depositor, shall be eligible for appointment as an external auditor for a licensed financial institution or a licensed financial holding company.

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    (9)   Any person appointed as an external auditor who shall, after an appointment, acquire any interest in a licensed financial institution or a licensed financial holding company otherwise than as a depositor, or become a director, officer, secretary, employee or agent of a licensed financial institution or a licensed financial holding company shall immediately cease to be an external auditor.