Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

46.   Clearance of coasting vessels and aircraft

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    (1)   Subject to the provisions of this subsection and save as the Comptroller may otherwise permit, no coasting vessel or coasting aircraft shall depart from any port or airport in Saint Lucia before its master or commander has produced to the proper officer an account of the goods carried in that vessel or aircraft, in such form and manner and containing such particulars as the Comptroller may direct, and such account, when signed by the proper officer, shall be the clearance of that vessel or aircraft.

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    (2)   Where an officer is stationed at the place where an account is required to be produced under subsection (1), the vessel or aircraft shall not depart from that place whereupon the account shall be produced to an officer at the first place the vessel or aircraft arrives at where an officer is stationed.

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    (3)   On the application of the master of any coasting vessel or the commander of any coasting aircraft, the Comptroller may grant, subject to such conditions and restrictions as he or she may see fit to impose, a general clearance for that vessel or aircraft, and any goods, class or description of goods to be carried in it.

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    (4)   Any general clearance granted under subsection (3), may be revoked at any time by the proper officer by notice in writing delivered to the master or owner of the vessel or the commander or owner of the aircraft or to any member of the crew on board that vessel or aircraft.

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    (5)   Except as provided by this section, if any coasting vessel or coasting aircraft carrying goods departs from any place in Saint Lucia without clearance, whether obtained before or after that departure, or in contravention of any condition or restriction imposed by the Comptroller upon a general clearance of that vessel or aircraft under subsection (3), the master of that vessel or the commander of that aircraft commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $5,000, or 3 times the value of the goods whichever is the greater and any goods in respect of which the offence was committed are liable to forfeiture.