Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2022)

5.   Functions and powers of the authority

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   (1)   The Authority shall exercise the powers given to and perform the duties imposed on the Authority pursuant to this Act or any other law in force in Saint Lucia including the following —

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      (a)     receive and consider applications for the grant or renewal of licences for the carrying on of private security business;

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      (b)     make recommendations to the Minister for the grant or refusal of applications made pursuant to paragraph (a);

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      (c)     consider the operation of any enactments that relate to or in any way affect the security services and make to the Minister —

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         (i)     such representations with respect to matters of general concern arising in connection with the operation of those enactments, and

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         (ii)     such recommendations for the extension or modification of those enactments; as the Authority thinks fit;

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      (d)     establish and maintain a data base of information necessary for the regulation of security services;

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      (e)     promote public awareness concerning security services;

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      (f)     identify additional research and development resources relating to security services;

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      (g)     determine a claim by customers against a licensee in accordance with the terms of the licence in the event that the customer and the licensee have not been able to resolve the claim;

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      (h)     advise the Minister on the standards, codes of practice and Regulations to be prescribed;

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      (i)     administer the provisions of this Act and the Regulations.

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   (2)   Where the Authority reasonably suspects that a licensee is in breach of this Act, the Regulations or a licence, or where an allegation of breach is made to the Authority against a licensee, the Authority may conduct any investigation it considers necessary in relation to the licensee and may perform any of the following in the course of such investigation —

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      (a)     compel the production of documents and records in the custody or control of the licensee;

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      (b)     compel the appearance of an employee or officer of a licensee or any other person for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with this Act, the Regulations or the relevant licence;

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      (c)     inspect, examine or make copies of any document or record in the possession of the licensee relevant to the licence held by the licensee;

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      (d)     require verification of income and all other matters pertinent to the licence;

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      (e)     enter or inspect any premises for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with this Act, the Regulations or the licence; and

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      (f)     seize or remove any document or records relating to the licence or service for the purpose of examination and inspection.

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   (3)   A person shall not —

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      (a)     hinder, obstruct, prevent or interfere with a member of the Board or a member of staff of the Authority in the exercise of a power pursuant to this section; or

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      (b)     fail without reasonable excuse to answer any question relating to any register, book, record or other document or any relevant matter when required to do so by a member of the Board or a member of staff of the Authority pursuant to subsection (2).

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   (4)   A person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (3) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $5000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or to both.