Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

6.   Societies to be registered

  1.  

    (1)   Every society to which this Act applies shall be registered under this Act. However, it is considered to be a sufficient compliance with the provisions of this section if, before any subscriptions or fees are collected from any member, the Registrar, by writing under his or her hand, permits any person named therein, hereinafter referred to as a permitted person, to take the necessary steps for the formation of a society and if such society is in fact registered within 6 months of such permission being given as aforesaid.

  1.  

    (2)   In the event of any contravention of the provisions of this section, every secretary, trustee, member of the committee, or other officer of an unregistered society is liable to a fine of $5 for every day during which such society remains unregistered.

  1.  

    (3)   Every permitted person shall while such society is in process of formation cause to be kept proper books of account with respect to all subscriptions or fees received and all sums of money expended by such person and the matters in respect of which the receipts and expenditure take place and shall immediately prior to the registration of the said society or at the end of the said period of 6 months, whichever shall occur sooner, send to the Registrar a true return signed by him or her of the receipts and expenditure, funds and effects collected, received and expended by him or her while such society was in process of formation.

  1.  

    (4)   If it is shown that proper books of account were not kept by such permitted person throughout the said period of 6 months immediately preceding the registration of such society such permitted person unless he or she shows that he or she acted honestly or that in the circumstances in which the affairs of the society in formation were carried on the default was excusable, is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for 6 months or to a fine of $240.

  1.  

    (5)   The Registrar shall on being satisfied that any member or other person has subscribed to the funds so collected or received or has an interest therein permit such member or other person to inspect without payment of any fee the said return at the office of the Registrar during the usual or customary hours of business.

  1.  

    (6)   The Registrar may at any time either before or after the registration of a society order the books, accounts, vouchers, documents, securities and funds of such society during the period it was unregistered or in course of formation to be inspected or audited by some fit and proper person appointed by him or her, and it is the duty of the permitted person and of every secretary, treasurer, trustee and member of the committee or other officer of the society to make available to the person so appointed all the books, accounts, vouchers, documents, securities and funds of the society for purposes of inspection or audit; and the Registrar may order such person to be paid out of the funds of the said unregistered society or society in formation or by Government as he or she may deem fit, such fee not exceeding such sum as may be prescribed.