67

67. LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION (1) There shall (except at times when there are no members of the House who do not support the Government) be a Leader of the Opposition who shall be appointed by the Governor General. (2) Whenever there is occasion for the appointment of a Leader of the Opposition the Governor General shall appoint the member of the House who appears to him or her most likely to Laws of Saint Lucia Constitution of Saint Lucia Cap. 1.01 73 Revision Date: 31 Dec 2006 command the support of a majority of the members of the House who do not support the Government: or, if no member of the House appears to him or her to command such support, the member of the House who appears to him or her to command the support of the largest single group of members of the House who do not support the Government. (3) If occasion arises to appoint a Leader of the Opposition during the period between a dissolution of Parliament and the day on which the ensuing election of members of the House is held, an appointment may be made as if Parliament had not been dissolved. (4) The office of Leader of the Opposition shall become vacant— (a) if he or she ceases to be a member of the House otherwise than by reason of a dissolution of Parliament; (b) if, when the House first meets after a dissolution of Parliament, he or she is not then a member of the House; (c) if, under the provisions of section 34(3), he or she is required to cease to perform his or her functions as a member of the House; or (d) if he or she is removed from office by the Governor General under the provisions of subsection (5). (5) If it appears to the Governor General that the Leader of the Opposition is no longer able to command the support of a majority of the members of the House who do not support the Government or (if no member of the House appears to him or her to be able to command such support) the support of the largest single group of members of the House who do not support the Government, he or she shall remove the Leader of the Opposition from office. (6) The powers of the Governor General under this section shall be exercised by him or her in his or her own deliberate judgment.