Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

PART 4
PROHIBITIONS IN RESPECT OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION

22.   Prohibition against possession without a licence

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    (1)   A person shall not be in possession or control of a prohibited weapon except as authorised by the law in force in Saint Lucia.

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    (2)   A person shall not be in possession or control of a restricted weapon except as authorised by the appropriate authority under this Act.

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    (3)   Subject to section 23 and to section 54 a person shall not be in possession of any other firearm or ammunition without valid licence issued under this Act.

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    (4)   A person who contravenes subsection (1), (2) or (3) commits an offence and is liable—

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      (a)     if in possession or control of a restricted weapon or restricted ammunition—

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        (i)     on summary conviction, to a fine of not less than $10,000 or imprisonment for a term of not less than 5 years,

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        (ii)     on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term of not less than 10 years;

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      (b)     in any other case—

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        (i)     on summary conviction to a fine of not less than $15,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not less than 7 years,

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        (ii)     on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term of not less than 10 years.

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    (5)   In any prosecution for an offence under this section a person who—

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      (a)     without reasonable excuse is in the company of a person who uses a firearm to commit any offence or an offence involving an assault or the resisting of lawful apprehension of himself or herself or any other person;

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      (b)     has in his or her possession or under his or her control any vehicle in which is found any firearm or ammunition,

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    shall if the circumstances give rise to a reasonable presumption that he or she was present to aid or abet the commission of the offence, be regarded as having in his or her possession the firearm or ammunition.

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    (6)   A person who is proved to have used or to have been in possession of a firearm or imitation firearm in any of the circumstances which constitute an offence under section 27 may be charged under this section.

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    (7)   A person who is convicted of a second or subsequent offence under this section shall in addition to being declared a prohibited person under section 11 be liable to a fine of not less than $30,000 nor more than $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not less than 20 years.