Constitution of Saint Lucia 1978, as amended to 1980
Political Rights and Association
  • English
    WHEREAS the People of Saint Lucia-

    (c) recognise that the enjoyment of these rights depends upon certain fundamental freedoms namely, freedom of the person, of thought, of expression, of communication, of conscience and of association;

    (g) express their commitment to democracy, in particular the principle of a government freely elected on the basis of universal adult suffrage.
    … (Preamble)
Political Rights and Association
  • English
    Whereas every person in Saint Lucia is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms, that is to say, the right, whatever his or her race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and all of the following, namely—

    (b) freedom of conscience, of expression and of assembly and association;
    … (Sec. 1)
Political Rights and Association
  • English
    (1) Except with his or her own consent, a person shall not be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her freedom of assembly and association, that is to say, his or her right to assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular to form or belong to trade unions or other associations for the protection of his or her interests or to form or belong to political parties or other political associations.
    … (Sec. 11)
Political Rights and Association
  • English

    (2)
    (a) Every Commonwealth citizen of the prescribed age who possesses such qualifications relating to residence or domicile in Saint Lucia as Parliament may prescribe shall, unless he or she is disqualified by Parliament from registration as a voter for the purpose of electing members of the House, be entitled to be registered as such a voter in accordance with the provisions of any law in that behalf, and no other person may be so registered.
    (b) Every person who is registered as aforesaid in any constituency shall, unless he or she is disqualified by Parliament from voting in that constituency in any election of members of the House, be entitled so to vote, in accordance with the provisions of any law in that behalf, and no other person may so vote.
    (c) For the purposes of this subsection the prescribed age shall be the age of 21 years or such lower age, not being less than 18 years, as Parliament may prescribe.
    … (Sec. 33)
Electoral Bodies
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    (1) The Electoral Commission shall be responsible for the registration of voters for the purpose of electing members of the House and for the conduct of elections of members of the House and shall have such powers and other functions relating to such registration and elections as may be prescribed by law.
    … (Sec. 37)
Head of State
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    There shall be a Governor General of Saint Lucia who shall be a citizen appointed by Her Majesty and shall hold office during Her Majesty's pleasure and who shall be Her Majesty's representative in Saint Lucia. (Sec. 19)
Head of State
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    (1) Any reference in this Constitution to the functions of the Governor General shall be construed as a reference to his or her powers and duties in the exercise of the executive authority of Saint Lucia and to any other powers and duties conferred or imposed on him or her as Governor General by or under this Constitution or any other law.
    (2) Where by this Constitution the Governor General is required to perform any function after consultation with any person or authority he or she shall not be obliged to exercise that function in accordance with the advice of that person or authority.
    (3) Where by this Constitution the Governor General is required to perform any function in accordance with the advice of, or after consultation with, any person or authority, the question whether the Governor General has so exercised that function shall not be enquired into in any court of law. (Sec. 121)
Government
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    (1) There shall be a Prime Minister of Saint Lucia who shall be appointed by the Governor General.
    (2) Whenever the Governor General has occasion to appoint a Prime Minister he or she shall appoint a member of the House who appears to him or her likely to command the support of the majority of the members of the House.
    (3) There shall be, in addition to the office of Prime Minister, such other offices of Minister of the Government as may be established by Parliament or, subject to the provisions of any law enacted by Parliament, by the Governor General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister.
    (4) Appointments to the office of Minister, other than the office of Prime Minister, shall be made by the Governor General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, from among the Senators and the members of the House.
    … (Sec. 60)
Government
  • English
    (1) There shall be a Cabinet of Ministers for Saint Lucia which shall consist of the Prime Minister and the other Ministers.

    (3) The functions of the Cabinet shall be to advise the Governor General in the government of Saint Lucia and the Cabinet shall be collectively responsible to Parliament for any advice given to the Governor General by or under the general authority of the Cabinet and for all things done by or under the authority of any Minister in the execution of his or her office.
    … (Sec. 61)
Legislature
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    There shall be a Parliament of Saint Lucia which shall consist of Her Majesty, a Senate and a House of Assembly. (Sec. 23)
Legislature
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    (1) The Senate shall consist of 11 Senators and such other Senators as may be temporarily appointed under section 28.
    (2) Of the 11 Senators—
    (a) 6 shall be appointed by the Governor General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister;
    (b) 3 shall be appointed by the Governor General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition; and
    (c) 2 shall be appointed by the Governor General, acting in his or her own deliberate judgment after he or she has consulted those religious, economic or social bodies or associations from which he or she considers that such Senators should be selected. (Sec. 24)
Legislature
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    Subject to the provisions of section 26, a person shall be qualified to be appointed as a Senator if, and shall not be so qualified unless, he or she—
    (a) is a Commonwealth citizen who has attained the age of 21 years
    (b) has been ordinarily resident in Saint Lucia for a period of 5 years immediately before the date of his or her appointment; and
    (c) is able to speak and, unless incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause, to read the English language with sufficient proficiency to enable him or her to take an active part in the proceedings of the Senate. (Sec. 25)
Legislature
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    (1) The House shall consist of such number of members as corresponds with the number of constituencies established in accordance with the provisions of section 58, who shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of section 33.
    … (Sec. 30)
Legislature
  • English
    Subject to the provisions of section 32, a person shall be qualified to be elected as a member of the House if, and shall not be so qualified unless, he or she—
    (a) is a citizen of the age of 21 years or upwards;
    (b) was born in Saint Lucia and is domiciled and resident there at the date of his or her nomination or, having been born elsewhere, has resided there for a period of 12 months immediately before that date; and
    (c) is able to speak and, unless incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause, to read the English language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to enable him or her to take an active part in the proceedings of the House. (Sec. 31)
Legislature
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    (1) Each of the constituencies established in accordance with the provisions of section 58 shall return one member to the House who shall be directly elected in such manner as may, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, be prescribed by or under any law.
    … (Sec. 33)
Legislature
  • English
    Subject to the provisions of this Constitution Parliament may make laws for the peace, order and good government of Saint Lucia. (Sec. 40)
1

Constitution of Saint Lucia 1978, as amended to 1980 (English). We are aware an amendment to the present constitution was adopted in 2023, to replace the Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice. This effort has not yet been consolidated by the government. The date used in the database reflects what is available publicly.

Links to all sites last visited 20 March 2024
2
Chapter VII on Citizenship.
3
Chapter I on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.
4
Chapter I on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.