Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

118Q.   RESTRICTION ON SENDING INFANTS ABROAD FOR ADOPTION

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    (1)   A person shall not, in connection with an arrangement made for the adoption of an infant who is a citizen of Saint Lucia, permit, cause or procure, the care and possession of the infant to be transferred to a person who is not a citizen of Saint Lucia or the tutor or a relative of the infant and who is resident abroad.

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    (2)   A person shall not, in connection with an arrangement made for the adoption of an infant who is a citizen of Saint Lucia, permit, cause or procure, the care and possession of that infant, to be transferred to a person who is a citizen of Saint Lucia resident abroad and who is not the tutor or a relative of the infant, unless a licence has been granted in respect of the infant under section 118R.

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    (3)   A person who contravenes this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to both.

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    (4)   In proceedings under this section, a report by a public officer or a deposition made before a public officer and authenticated under the signature of that officer is, on proof that the officer or deponent cannot be found in Saint Lucia, admissible in evidence, and it is not necessary to prove the signature or official character of the person who appears to have signed the report or deposition.

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    (5)   In this section, “public officer” means a judge, master or registrar of a court of record, a magistrate, a commissioner for oaths, a notary public or a British diplomatic or consular official.

(Inserted by Act 20 of 2019)