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Back to Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

2. Interpretation

In this Act—

“City of Castries” means the City of Castries the limits of which are set out in Schedule 1 to the Castries Corporation Act, 1967 and any extension made thereto in accordance with the powers conferred by section 6 of that Act;

“Council of the City of Castries” means a council as constituted under section 7 of the Castries Corporation Act, 1967;

“electioneering period” means—

(a) in the case of the election of a member or members to serve in the House of Assembly the period between the issue of the writ and polling day;

(b) in the case of the election of a member or members to serve on the Council, City of Castries, or local authority 15 days before the date set for the taking of a poll;

“local authority” means the town council, village council, or other district council mentioned in the Local Authority Act, the limits of which are set out under section 6 of that Act;

“meeting” means any assembly or gathering of persons called together for the purpose of the transaction of matters of public interest or for the discussion of such matters or for the purpose of the expression of views upon such matters;

“Minister” means the Minister charged with the responsibility for internal security;

“offensive weapon” includes—

(a) any gun as defined in section 2 of the Firearms Act, 2001;

(b) any article made or adapted for use for causing injury to the person or intended by the person having it with him or her for such use by him or her; and

(c) any article or device made or adapted for use for causing damage to any property or intended by the person having it with him or her for such use by him or her;

“political meeting” means any meeting held in any public place for the purpose of furthering or criticising the aims, objects, action or performance of any political party or for the purpose of supporting or opposing the candidature of any individual as against any other or others;

“public march” means any march or procession in a public place comprising (whether wholly or partly) pedestrians, vehicles (however propelled or drawn), or bicycles (however propelled), except a march or procession—

(a) by any of Her Majesty's Forces;

(b) by police officers or fire service;

(d) which takes place as a competent part of any religious ceremony, including a wedding or funeral, not being in any way connected with any political demonstration or celebration;

(e) which is confined to the pupils and teachers of any school;

(f) organised by or on behalf of, and in furtherance of the lawful industrial objects of a trade union; or

(g) by members of any youth organisation or of any other body approved by the Minister, being an organisation or a body which is not in any other way connected with any political organisation;

“public meeting” includes any meeting held in any public place and any meeting which the public or any section thereof are permitted to attend whether on payment or otherwise;

“public place” means any highway, public park or garden, sea beach, public bridge, road, lane, footway, square, court, alley or passage whether a thoroughfare or not, and includes any open space to which for the time being, the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise;

“State” means the State of Saint Lucia;

“Trade Union” means a trade union registered under the Registration, Status and Recognition of Trade Unions and Employers Organisation Act.

(2) For the purposes of this Act a meeting held for any of the purposes specified in the definition of the expression political meeting, shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed a political meeting if any speaker at such meeting refers to or discusses the aims, objects, action or programme of any political party or the candidature or intending candidature of any individual as against any other or others.