Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

205.   Liability of Government

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    (1)   The Government is not liable with respect to anything done under section 203, except that, if after the wages or effects of a seaman have been dealt with under that section any legal proceedings are taken by the seaman against the owner, master or agent of the ship, or by the master or owner of the ship against the seaman, in respect of those wages, the Minister shall if notice is given to him or her of the proceedings and a reasonable opportunity afforded him or her of complying, comply with any order of the court made as respects the wages or effects so far as he or she can do so out of the wages and effects remitted to him or her in respect of the voyage of the ship.

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    (2)   The Minister is entitled to appear and be heard in any proceedings referred to in subsection (1) or to be represented by any public officer in his or her Ministry or any other public officer.

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    (3)   The Minster may, if and so far as he or she thinks fit, meet any claim by a seaman against the owner, master or agent of the ship in respect of any wages or effects dealt with under section 203 although legal proceedings are not actually taken in respect thereof, if the Minister has given notice to the master or owner of the ship and the master or owner of the ship has not given written notice of objection within 10 days of the notice being given, and any expense incurred by the Minister under this subsection is recoverable by the State as a civil debt.

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    (4)   For the purpose of this section, any legal proceedings taken or any claim made by a person in whose favour an allotment note has been made are to be treated as proceedings taken or claim made by the seaman.