(1) Where 3 or more members of the crew of a Saint Lucian ship consider that the provisions or water provided for the use of the crew are, at any time, of bad quality or deficient in quantity, they may complain thereof to the Registrar of Seamen or to a proper officer or an inspector, who may either examine the provisions or water complained of, or cause them to be examined.
(2) Where the person making an examination under this section finds that the provisions or water are of bad quality or deficient in quantity, that person shall communicate that fact in writing to the master of the ship, and if the master does not thereupon provide provisions or water fit for human consumption he or she commits an offence.
(3) The person making the examination shall enter a statement of the result of the examination in the official log book and send a report thereof to the Registrar of Seamen, and that report is admissible in evidence in the manner provided by this Act.
(4) Where the person making the examination certifies in his or her statement that there was no reasonable ground for complaint, each of the complainants is liable to forfeit to the owner out of his or her wages a sum not exceeding one week's wages.