Detail

Back to Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2023)

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Honours and Awards Act.

2. Interpretation

(1) In this Act—

“authorised school” means a school authorised by the Governor General under section 8 of the Saint Lucia Cadet Corps Act, for the formation of a school Cadet Corps; (Inserted by Act 18 of 2015)

“Commission” means the National Heroes Commission established under section 15;

“Committee” means the National Awards Committee established under section 7;

“Order of National Hero” means the Order of National Hero established under section 12;

“Order of Saint Lucia” means the Order of Saint Lucia recognised under section 3;

“prescribed” means prescribed in Regulations;

“Registrar” means the Registrar of Awards of Long Service Medal appointed under section 23;

“Regulations” means Regulations made under section 29.

(2) A reference in this Act to any of the following is a reference to the respective title of honour or award described in Schedule 1 —
1. (a) Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Lucia;
1. (b) Knight or Dame Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia;
1. (c) Saint Lucia Cross;
1. (d) Saint Lucia Medal of Honour;
1. (e) Saint Lucia Medal of Merit;
1. (f) Saint Lucia Les Pitons Medal;
1. (g) National Service Cross; or
1. (h) National Service Medal.

(Substituted by Act 18 of 2015)

(3) (Deleted by Act 18 of 2015).

PART 1
ORDER OF SAINT LUCIA

3. Recognition of Order of Saint Lucia

The society of honour known as “The Order of Saint Lucia” established under Letters Patent dated 13 December 1986 is hereby recognised.

4. Composition of Order of Saint Lucia

The Order of Saint Lucia comprises—

(a) the Sovereign as its Head;

(b) the Governor General as its Chancellor; and

(c) the living holders of the following awards —
1. (i) Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Lucia,
1. (ii) Knight or Dame Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia,
1. (iii) Saint Lucia Cross,
1. (iv) Saint Lucia Medal of Honour,
1. (v) Saint Lucia Medal of Merit,
1. (vi) Saint Lucia Les Pitons Medal,
1. (vii) National Service Cross,
1. (viii) National Service Medal.

(Substituted by Act 18 of 2015)

5. Functions of Chancellor

(1) The Chancellor of the Order of Saint Lucia is responsible for the administration of the Order of Saint Lucia and shall have in his or her custody the seal of the Order of Saint Lucia and shall affix the seal to all enactments or other instruments relating to the Order of Saint Lucia.

(2) Where the Governor General is absent, the person who is performing the functions of the office of the Governor General shall discharge the functions of the Chancellor of the Order of Saint Lucia.

6. Secretary of the Order of Saint Lucia

The Private Secretary to the Governor General is the secretary of the Order of Saint Lucia and shall maintain records of the Order of Saint Lucia, arrange for investitures and perform such other functions in respect of the Order of Saint Lucia as the Governor General may require.

7. National Awards Committee

(1) There is established a standing committee to be known as the National Awards Committee comprising —
1. (a) a Chairperson who is a citizen of Saint Lucia appointed by the Governor General after consultation with the Prime Minister;
1. (b) the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission and the Teaching Service Commission where both Commissions have one chairperson but otherwise by individual chairpersons if each Commission has its own chairperson;
1. (c) the Commissioner of Police;
1. (d) three persons who are citizens of Saint Lucia, representing the public appointed by the Governor General —
  1. (i) two of whom shall be appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, and
  1. (ii) one of whom shall be appointed on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition.

(Substituted by Act 18 of 2015)

(2) A member of the Committee appointed under paragraph (a) or (d) holds office for a period not exceeding 3 years and is eligible for re-appointment.

(3) The Prime Minister shall appoint a person to be the secretary of the Committee.

(4) A vacancy in the membership of the Committee shall not preclude the Committee from carrying out its functions.

(5) A person shall not be a member of the Order of Saint Lucia by reason only of that person being a member of the Committee or an official of the Order of Saint Lucia.

(6) The names of all members of the Committee as first constituted and every change in membership of the Committee shall be published in the Gazette.

(7) The Committee may regulate its own procedure, except as specifically provided in this Act.

(Substituted by Act 18 if 2015)

8. Duties of Committee

The Committee shall —

(a) consider nominations of any persons together with recommendations and supporting material received by the Committee for awards of Saint Lucia Cross, Saint Lucia Medal of Honour, Saint Lucia Medal of Merit, Saint Lucia Les Pitons Medal, National Service Cross and National Service Medal;

(b) compile separate lists in respect of each award and where applicable in respect of each class of the award, of those nominees to whom an award may be made;

(d) advise the Governor General in respect of any matter concerning the Order of Saint Lucia.

(Substituted by Act 18 of 2015)

9. Nomination

(1) Any person or organisation may submit to the Committee for its consideration a nomination of a citizen of Saint Lucia for an award of Saint Lucia Cross, Saint Lucia Medal of Honour, Saint Lucia Medal of Merit and Saint Lucia Les Pitons Medal.

(2) (a) The Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, the Chairperson of the Teaching Service Commission, the Commissioner of Police of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, the Chief Fire Officer of the Saint Lucia Fire Service or the Director of Correctional Services of the Saint Lucia Correctional Services may submit to the Committee for its consideration, a nomination of a citizen of Saint Lucia for an award of National Service Cross.
1. (b) Where the Chairperson of the Teaching Service Commission is the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, a nomination may be made by the Chairperson in each capacity.

(3) The Commissioner of Police of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, the Chief Fire Officer of the Saint Lucia Fire Service or the Director of Correctional Services of the Saint Lucia Correctional Services, the Commandant of the Saint Lucia Cadet Corps or the principal of an authorised school may submit to the Committee for its consideration a nomination of a citizen of Saint Lucia for an award of National Service Medal.

(4) A distinguished citizen of a country other than Saint Lucia may be awarded the Saint Lucia Cross, the Saint Lucia Medal of Honour, the Saint Lucia Medal of Merit, or the Saint Lucia Les Pitons Medal on an honorary basis and that person shall be an honorary member of the Order of Saint Lucia.

(Substituted by Act 18 of 2015)

9A. Eligibility

(1) A citizen of Saint Lucia shall be eligible for an award granting full membership to the Order of Saint Lucia.

(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), a person other than a citizen of Saint Lucia may be granted honorary membership to the Order of Saint Lucia.

(3) Any class of award of the Order of Saint Lucia to a person other than a citizen of Saint Lucia shall be made with the approval of the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister.

(4) On the recommendation of the Prime Minister, the Governor General shall make, on behalf of the Sovereign, such award as he or she considers appropriate and, in accordance with Schedule 1, grant an honorary award in the specified class, where applicable.

(5) An honorary award of Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Lucia shall only be awarded on a formal State visit where an exchange of honours is agreed upon in advance of such visit and shall be reserved for —
1. (a) Heads of reigning Royal Houses; and
1. (b) Heads of State.

(Inserted by Act 18 of 2015)

10. Grant of award

(1) On receipt of the Committee's recommendations, the Prime Minister shall advise the Governor General to make, on the Sovereign's behalf, such awards as the Prime Minister considers appropriate and the Governor General may in accordance with Schedule 1 and section 25 grant the award.

(2) An award granted by the Governor General under this Part shall be granted by Proclamation sealed with the Seal of the Order of Saint Lucia and shall have effect from the date of the Seal unless another effective date is specified in the Proclamation.

(3) An award granted under this section may be granted posthumously but a deceased recipient shall not become a member of the Order of Saint Lucia.

11. Termination of membership in Order of Saint Lucia

A person ceases to be a full or honorary member of the Order of Saint Lucia upon —

(a) his or her death;

(b) his or her resignation from the Order of Saint Lucia, which shall have effect on the date on which a resignation in writing is accepted by the Governor General; or

(c) the revocation of his or her award by the Governor General for conduct deemed to have brought the Order into disrepute, except that an award of Saint Lucia Medal of Honour for gallantry or humane action shall not be revoked.

(Substituted by Act 18 of 2015)

PART 2
ORDER OF NATIONAL HERO

12. Establishment of Order of National Hero

A society of honour to be known as the Order of National Hero is hereby established.

13. Constitution of Order of National Hero

The Order of National Hero shall consist of —

(a) the Governor General as its Chancellor; and

(b) persons upon whom the Award of National Hero has been conferred who are living. (Amended by Act 18 of 2015)

14. Functions of Chancellor

(1) The Chancellor of the Order of National Hero is responsible for the administration of the Order of National Hero and shall have in his or her custody the seal of the Order of National Hero and shall affix the Seal to all enactments or other instruments relating to the Order of National Hero.

(2) Where the Governor General is absent the person who is performing the functions of the office of Governor General shall discharge the functions of the Chancellor of the Order of National Hero.

(3) The Private Secretary to the Governor General is the secretary of the Order of National Hero, and shall maintain the records of the Order of National Hero arrange for investitures and perform such other functions in respect of the Order of National Hero as the Governor General shall direct.

15. National Heroes Commission

(1) There is established a commission to be known as the National Heroes Commission.

(2) The Commission shall comprise not less than 7 members appointed by the Governor General including 2 members nominated by the Prime Minister and 2 members nominated by the Leader of the Opposition.

(3) The Governor General shall, after consultation with the Prime Minister, appoint a person from among the members of the Commission to be the Chairperson of the Commission.

(4) The office of the Chairperson of the Commission shall not be a public office for the purpose of section 124 of the Constitution of Saint Lucia.

(5) The Governor General shall after consultation with the Prime Minister appoint a person from among the members of the Commission to be Secretary to the Commission.

(6) A member of the Commission, other than the Chairperson, may at any time resign his or her office by instrument in writing addressed to the Governor General and transmitted through the Chairperson, and from the date of receipt by the Governor General of the instrument, the member shall cease to be a member of the Commission.

(7) The Chairperson of the Commission may at any time resign his or her office by instrument in writing addressed to the Governor General and such resignation shall take effect as from the date of receipt of the instrument by the Governor General.

(8) Every change in membership of the Commission shall be published in the Gazette.

(9) A vacancy in the membership of the Commission shall not preclude the Commission from carrying out its functions.

(10) A person shall not be a member of the Order of National Hero by reason only of being a member of the Commission or other official of the Order of National Hero.

(11) The Commission shall regulate its own procedures.

(Substituted by Act 18 of 2015)

16. Duties of the Commission

The Commission shall, with a view to the proper carrying out of the provisions of the Act —

(a) make such investigations as it thinks fit to determine persons living or dead, upon whom may be conferred the award of National Hero; and (Amended by Act 18 of 2015)

(b) report to the Prime Minister the result of those investigations. (Amended by Act 18 of 2015)

(Amended by Act 18 of 2015)

17. Conferment of award of National Hero

(1) A person whose name is set out in Schedule 3 is hereby declared to be a National Hero. (Substituted by Act 18 of 2015)

(2) Subject to subsection (3) and to section 25 the Governor General may by proclamation sealed with the seal of the Order of National Hero, in accordance with Schedule 2, confer the award of National Hero upon any person who was born in Saint Lucia or who at the time of his or her death was a citizen of Saint Lucia and who has —
1. (a) given outstanding service to Saint Lucia where that service has altered the course of the history of Saint Lucia;
1. (b) given service to Saint Lucia which has been exemplified by visionary and pioneering leadership, extraordinary achievements or attainment of the highest excellence, and which has redounded to the award of Saint Lucia; or (Amended by Act 18 of 2015)
1. (c) through his or her heroic exploits or sacrifices contributed to the improvement of the economic and social conditions of Saint Lucia and Saint Lucians generally.

(Amended by Act 18 of 2015)

(3) The power conferred upon the Governor General under subsection (2) shall be exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister given upon a consideration of a report of the Commission referred to in section 16(b).

(4) The award of National Hero may be conferred upon a person posthumously or during the person's lifetime. (Amended by Act 18 of 2015)

(Amended by Act 18 of 2015)

PART 3
SAINT LUCIA PUBLIC SERVICES LONG SERVICE MEDAL

(Heading substituted by Act 18 of 2015)

18. Recognition of Medal

The award of the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal established under Letters Patent dated 13 December 1986 is hereby recognised.

(Substituted by Act 18 of 2015)

19. Design of Medal

The design of the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal and of clasps to the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal shall be as prescribed. (Amended by Act 18 of 2015)

20. Conditions for award of Medal

(1) The following persons are eligible for the award of the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal —
1. (a) members of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force;
1. (b) members of the Saint Lucia Fire Service;
1. (c) members of the Prisons Service;
1. (d) members of the Saint Lucia Civil Service;
1. (e) members of the Saint Lucia Teaching Service.

(Amended by Act 18 of 2015)

(2) The Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal shall not be awarded to a person unless that person has —
1. (a) served diligently and has been of exemplary conduct for a continuous period of 20 years in one of the capacities mentioned in subsection (1);
1. (b) served diligently and has been of exemplary conduct in 2 or more of the capacities mentioned in subsection (1) for successive periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than 20 years.

(Amended by Act 18 of 2015)

(3) A clasp to the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal may be awarded after the completion of a further continuous period of service of 10 years in any of the capacities mentioned in subsection (1), and an additional clasp may be awarded after the completion of each further period of 5 years continuous service. (Amended by Act 18 of 2015)

21. Grant of Medal

The award of the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal or a clasp to the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal may, subject to section 25, be made by the Governor General on the recommendation of —

(a) the Commissioner of Police, in the case of a member of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force;

(b) the Chief Fire Officer, in the case of a member of the Saint Lucia Fire Service;

(d) the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, in the case of a member of the Civil Service;

(e) the Chairperson of the Teaching Service Commission, in the case of a member of the Teaching Service;

(f) the Chairperson of the Teaching Service Commission and the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, where the Chairperson represents both the Teaching Service Commission and the Public Service Commission, in the case of a member of the Teaching Service and a member of the Civil Service,

and in each case the approval of the administrative head of the Ministry charged with responsibility for the particular service, is required.

(Substituted by Act 18 of 2015)

22. Wearing of Medal

The manner of wearing the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal shall be determined by the Governor General.

(Substituted by Act 18 of 2015)

23. Registrar and register

There shall be a Registrar of Awards of the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal who shall be appointed by the Governor General and who shall maintain a register of the names and other relevant particulars of persons to whom the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medals or clasps to the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal have been awarded.

(Substituted by Act 18 of 2015)

24. Cancellation and re-instatement

(1) The Governor General may cancel an award of the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal or a clasp to the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal, and may restore an award so cancelled. (Amended by Act 18 of 2015)

(2) Where an award of the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal is cancelled under the provisions of subsection (1), the name of the person to whom the award was made shall be erased from the register kept under section 23 and that person shall return the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal, together with any clasps to the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal, to the Registrar. (Amended by Act 18 of 2015)

(3) Where an award of a clasp to the Saint Lucia Public Services Long Service Medal is cancelled under the provisions of subsection (1), the entry relating to the award of the clasp shall be erased from the register kept under section 23 and the person to whom the clasp was awarded shall return the clasp to the Registrar. (Amended by Act 18 of 2015)

(4) Where an award that has been cancelled under the provisions of subsection (1) is restored, the Registrar shall restore the entry or entries that had been erased in the register kept under section 23.

PART 4
MISCELLANEOUS

25. Time of grant of awards

Awards granted under this Act other than honorary awards shall be made only once a year in respect of Independence Day.

26. Expenses

Any expense incurred under this Act is a charge on the Consolidated Fund.

(Substituted by Act 18 of 2015)

27. Powers of the Sovereign

This Act does not limit the rights of the Governor General to exercise all powers and authorities of the Sovereign in respect of the Order of Saint Lucia.

28. Amendment of Schedules

The Governor General may, after consultation with the Prime Minister, amend the Schedules.

(Substituted by Act 18 of 2015)

29. Regulations

(1) The Governor General may make regulations for the better carrying out of the purposes and provisions of this Act and in particular may make Regulations —
1. (a) prescribing all matters that are necessary or required to be prescribed;
1. (b) in relation to the seal, motto, motif, insignia or regalia;
1. (c) in relation to an investiture;
1. (d) for the manner of wearing of insignia and regalia issued in relation to an award;
1. (e) for any other right of privilege connected with the conferment of an award; and
1. (f) generally for giving effect to the provisions of this Act.