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36. DEPUTY SPEAKER (1) When the House first meets after any general election of members and before it proceeds to the despatch of any other business except the election of the Speaker, the House shall elect a member of the House, who is not a member of the Cabinet or a Parliamentary Secretary, to be Deputy Speaker of the House and if the office of Deputy Speaker falls vacant at Laws of Saint Lucia Constitution of Saint Lucia Cap. 1.01 49 Revision Date: 31 Dec 2006 any time before the next dissolution of Parliament, the House shall, as soon as convenient, elect another member of the House to that office. (2) A person shall vacate the office of Deputy Speaker— (a) if he or she ceases to be a member of the House; (b) if he or she becomes a member of the Cabinet or a Parliamentary Secretary; or (c) if he or she is elected to be Speaker. (3) If, by virtue of section 34(3), the Deputy Speaker is required to cease to perform his or her functions as a member of the House he or she shall also cease to perform his or her functions as Deputy Speaker and if the Deputy Speaker resumes the performance of his or her functions as a member of the House, in accordance with the provisions of that section, he or she shall also resume the performance of his or her functions as Deputy Speaker. (4) At any time when, by virtue of section 34(3), the Deputy Speaker is unable to perform the functions of his or her office, those functions shall, until he or she vacates his or her seat in the House or resumes the performance of the functions of his or her office, be performed by such member of the House (not being a member of the Cabinet or a Parliamentary Secretary) as the House may elect for the purpose.