(1) A person who refuses or neglects to discharge any obligation imposed upon him or her by Articles 135 to 142 and Article 145 of the Civil Code, when he or she is able by labour or other lawful means to discharge such obligation is deemed a vagrant or idle or disorderly person within the meaning of section 560 and punishable accordingly.
(2) A person is in want if he or she is without means of support.
(3) The Court may in addition to, or in lieu of, any other punishment order the person convicted under subsection (1) to repay any sum which may have been expended from any public or charitable funds as a result of his or her neglect or refusal to discharge his or her obligations and also pay in such manner as the Court may think fit a reasonable sum of money per week, to be applied for the maintenance and benefit of the person entitled to receive such maintenance or benefit.
(4) The Court may, at any time after it has made the order, upon cause being shown vary or discharge the order in so far as may be necessary to give effect to those provisions of the Civil Code of Saint Lucia referred to in subsection (1) of this section.
(5) All proceedings under this section shall be instituted in a district court, whether or not the sum of money involved exceeds $500, and the procedure for enforcement applied by the district court in the exercise of its jurisdiction with respect to summary offences shall be applicable.