(1) Whenever the Prime Minister is absent from Saint Lucia or by reason of illness is unable to perform the functions conferred upon him or her by this Constitution, the Governor General may authorise some other Minister to perform those functions (other than the functions conferred by this section) and that Minister may perform those functions until his or her authority is revoked by the Governor General.
(2) Whenever a Minister other than the Prime Minister is absent from Saint Lucia or is within Saint Lucia but by leave of the Governor General is not performing the functions of his or her office or by reason of illness is unable to perform those functions, the Governor General may authorize some other Minister to perform those functions or may appoint a Senator or a member of the House to be a temporary Minister in order to perform those functions; and that Minister may perform those functions until his or her authority or, as the case may be, his or her appointment is revoked by the Governor General or he or she vacates office as a Minister under section 60(8) or 60(9).
(3) The powers of the Governor General under this section shall be exercised by him or her in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister:
Provided that if the Governor General, acting in his or her own deliberate judgment, considers that it is impracticable to obtain the advice of the Prime Minister owing to his or her absence or illness he or she may exercise those powers without that advice and in his or her own deliberate judgment.