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Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2023)

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PART 4
PRIVILEGES AND PROTECTION

14. Privileges of witnesses and evidence

(1) A person summoned to attend, to give evidence or to produce any paper, book, record or document before the House or a committee shall be entitled, in respect of such evidence or the disclosure of any communication or the production of any such paper, book, record or document, to the same right or privilege as before the High Court of Judicature in England.

(2) Except with the consent of the Governor General, a public officer shall not be required—
1. (a) to produce before the House or a committee any paper, book, record or other document; or
1. (b) to give before the House or a committee any evidence on any matter,

if such paper, book, record or other document or such evidence is stated by the public officer to form part of or to relate to the unpublished official records of any naval, military, air force or civil department, or to relate to any affairs of State nor shall evidence on such matter or of the contents of any such paper, book, record or other document be given by any other witness or in any other manner.

14. Privileges of witnesses and evidence

2. Interpretation

3. Speaker and officers not subject to jurisdiction of courts

4. Immunity of member in respect of statements etc., in Legislature

5. Immunity of member from arrest on civil process

6. Immunity of persons acting under authority of the House

7. Process not to be served within precincts of House

8. Exemption of members, etc., from jury service, etc.

9. Chambers or committees may summon witnesses

10. Service of summons

11. Issue of warrant if person evades service of summons or refuses to attend

12. Witnesses may be examined on oath

13. Recalcitrant witnesses

16. Evidence of proceedings before House or committee not admissible except with consent of Speaker

17. Protection of persons responsible for publications authorised by House

18. Protection of persons publishing Extracts

19. Proceedings, etc., printed by Government Printer admissible in evidence

20. Witnesses failing to attend, or refusing to answer questions or produce documents

21. Making false statement to House or committee an offence

22. Presenting false documents to House or committee an offence

23. Restrictions on rights of strangers to enter House

24. Offences by strangers with respect to right of entry into House

25. Offences by strangers with respect to interference with members or privileges of House

26. Arrest of persons committing offences against sections 24 and 25

27. Acts constituting contempt by members

28. Members to disclose interest before entering discussion

29. Suspended member excluded from House

30. Member seeking or accepting bribes commits an offence

31. Offences against a member

32. Defamatory, misleading or prohibited publications offences

33. Unauthorised printing of Acts

34. Powers of Speaker under this Act supplemental

35. Speaker to act notwithstanding dissolution of House

36. No prosecution without consent of the Attorney General

15. Evidence of witnesses before House or committee privileged