Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

7.   Boundaries of land and issue of notice of acquisition

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   (1)   As soon as may be after any land is acquired compulsorily, the authorised officer shall, if the boundaries of the land have not been set out or if they cannot be identified by reference to any plan, cause the same to be set out, and he or she shall also issue a notice of acquisition in accordance with the provisions of this section.

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   (2)   Every notice of acquisition under this section shall—

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      (a)     state the decision of the Governor General to acquire and take possession of the land compulsorily;

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      (b)     contain the particulars which, in relation to the land, were included in the declaration provided for by section 3(2); and

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      (c)     require all persons interested, as soon as is reasonably practicable, either—

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         (i)     to appear personally or by attorney or agent before the authorised officer to state the nature of their respective interests in the land and the amounts and full particulars of their claims to compensation in respect of those interests, distinguishing the amounts under separate heads and showing how the amount claimed under each head is calculated, or

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         (ii)     to render to the authorised officer a statement in writing, signed by them or by their attorneys or agents, setting out the like matters.

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   (3)   The authorised officer shall cause a copy of the notice of acquisition to be served, either personally on, or by post addressed to the last known place of abode or business of, every person who is known or believed by the authorised officer to be entitled to compensation in respect of the acquisition, and whose whereabouts are known to the authorised officer.

However, where the whereabouts of any such person are not known, the authorised officer shall cause copies of such notice to be posted on one of the buildings (if any) on the land or exhibited at suitable places in the locality in which the land is situate.

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   (4)   Any person who, without lawful authority or excuse, removes or destroys any landmark placed, or removes or defaces or destroys any notice posted or exhibited, by the authorised officer in or upon the land or any building thereon in accordance with the provisions of this Act, is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding $96 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months.