Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

PART IV
JUDICIAL AND LEGAL SERVICES COMMISSION

18.   Establishment of Commission

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   (1)   There shall be a Judicial and Legal Services Commission (hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”) for the States which shall consist of the following persons, that is to say—

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      (a)     the Chief Justice, who shall be the Chairman;

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      (b)     such Justice of Appeal or Puisne Judge as may from time to time be designated in that behalf by the Chief Justice;

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      (c)     a person, appointed by the Chief Justice with the concurrence of the Premiers of not less than 4 of the States, who has been a judge of a court of unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court, not being a person who is practising as an advocate before the Supreme Court; and

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      (d)     two members selected in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) of this section.

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   (2)   The persons for the time discharging the functions of Chairman of the Public Service Commissions of 2 States, being States for the time being designated in that behalf by the Chief Justice, shall be ex-officio members of the Commission:

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   Provided that—

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      (a)     except as otherwise provided in any agreement between the Governments of all the States, the Chief Justice shall designate States in such manner that the Chairmen of the Public Service Commissions of the States sit as members of the Commission in rotation for periods of 3 years, the order of rotation among the States to be as follows—

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         (i)     Antigua and Dominica,

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         (ii)     Grenada and Saint Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla,

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         (iii)     Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent; and

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      (b)     where the Chairman of the Public Service Commission of any designated State is in practice as an advocate before the Supreme Court, that Public Service Commission shall nominate another of its members, not being a person so in practice, to sit on the Commission in his or her stead.

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   (3)   The office of the appointed member of the Commission shall become vacant—

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      (a)     at the expiration of 3 years from the date of his or her appointment;

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      (b)     if he or she practises as an advocate before the Supreme Court; or

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      (c)     if the question of his or her ceasing to be a member of the Commission has been referred by the Chief Justice, acting on the recommendation of the Premiers of not less than four of the States, to a tribunal consisting of a Chairman and 2 other persons appointed by the Chief Justice, and that tribunal has recommended that such person should cease to be a member of the Commission.

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   (4)   The Commission shall not be disqualified for the transaction of business by reason of any vacancy amongst its members.