Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2023)

38.   Definitions for legislative purposes

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   (1)   In an enactment the expression—

“Act” means an Act of the Legislature and in any Act, other than this Act, includes an Ordinance of the Island passed before the commencement of this Act;

“House” means the House of Assembly of the Island;

“Speaker” means the Speaker of the House;

“Legislature” means the Legislature of the Island.

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   (2)   In any enactment passed or made after the commencement of this Act the expression “statutory period” in relation to any statutory instrument means a period of 40 days or such other period as may be prescribed by such enactment for the purposes of subsection (7) and (8).

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   (3)   Where any Act passed before the commencement of this Act provides that any statutory instrument made thereunder—

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      (a)     is to be laid before the House; and

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      (b)     may or is to be annulled if the House so resolves within the period so provided,

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   such provisions shall have effect and shall be deemed always to have had effect as if in the reckoning of such period only, such time as the Legislature is dissolved or prorogued shall not be taken into account.

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   (4)   A reference in any enactment passed or made after the commencement of this Act to the laying of any statutory instrument or statutory document or any report, account or other document before the Legislature, shall be construed as a reference to the taking, during the existence of the Legislature, of such action as—

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      (a)     by or under any Standing Order or other direction of the House in force, is directed to constitute the laying of such an instrument or document before the House; or

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      (b)     is accepted by virtue of the practice of the House as constituting such laying, notwithstanding that the action so directed or accepted consists wholly or partly of action capable of being taken otherwise than at or during the time of sitting of the House.

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   (5)   The expression “subject to affirmative resolution” when used in relation to any statutory instruments or statutory documents means that such instruments or documents shall not come into operation unless and until affirmed by a resolution of the House.

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   (6)   The expression “subject to affirmative resolution of the House” when used in relation to any statutory instruments or statutory documents means that such instruments or documents shall not come into operation unless and until affirmed by a resolution of the House.

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   (7)   The expression “subject to negative resolution” when used in relation to any statutory instruments or statutory documents means that such instruments or documents shall, as soon as may be after they are made, be laid before the House, and if the House, within the statutory period next after any such instruments or documents have been so laid, resolves that any of those instruments or documents shall be annulled, the instruments or documents shall be void as from the date of the resolution, but without prejudice to the validity of anything done thereunder or to the making of a new instrument or document.

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   (8)   The expression “subject to negative resolution of the House” when used in relation to any statutory instruments or statutory documents means that such instruments or statutory documents shall, as soon as may be after they are made, be laid before the House and if the House, within the statutory period next after any such instrument or document has been so laid resolves that the instrument or document shall be annulled, the instrument or document shall be void as from the date of the resolution, but without prejudice to the validity of anything done thereunder or to the making of a new instrument or document.