Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

7.   Functions of the Authority

1.  

   (1)   The functions of the Authority are—

   1.  

      (a)     to preserve public and private records of national significance and facilitate access to them;

   1.  

      (b)     to be the permanent repository of public archives;

   1.  

      (c)     to co-ordinate the management of public records;

   1.  

      (d)     to prepare guidelines concerning the retention or destruction of public records;

   1.  

      (e)     to prescribe rules for the protection of historical records;

   1.  

      (f)     to make available and publish lists, indices, guides, inventories and other such facilities as may be necessary as aids to the use of public archives;

   1.  

      (g)     to reproduce, edit or publish any public archive which has been transferred to the Authority subject to any terms and conditions on which it was so transferred;

   1.  

      (h)     to acquire by purchase, donations, bequest or other material which is likely to be of enduring historical value;

   1.  

      (i)     to prescribe by notice any public record to be of enduring or historical value;

   1.  

      (j)     to examine any record containing references to or which had its origin in but lies outside Saint Lucia, with a view to securing, either by loan or by purchase, the original or any copy thereof; and

   1.  

      (k)     to provide for the restoration, rehabilitation and conservation of public archives.

1.  

   (2)   The Authority may request any statutory body, or department of Government for access to its premises for the purpose of—

   1.  

      (a)     inspecting and examining its records;

   1.  

      (b)     giving advice relating to the filing, maintenance and preservation of its records;

   1.  

      (c)     recommending the transfer of its records to the premises or office of the Authority; and

   1.  

      (d)     making recommendations with regard to the retention or destruction of its records.

1.  

   (3)   Where a department of Government or statutory body, declines to comply with a request under subsection (2), the Authority may make representations in the matter to the Minister who may take such action as he or she considers necessary to secure compliance with this Act.