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Section 1. Short title 2. Substitution of section 36 62 No. 7 ] Constitution of Saint Lucia (Amendment) (No. 2) Act [2023 63 No. 7] Constitution of Saint Lucia (Amendment) (No. 2) Act [2023 I Assent [L.S.] ERROL CHARLES, Acting Governor-General. March 22, 2023. SAINT LUCIA ___________ No. 7 of 2023 AN ACT to amend the Constitution of Saint Lucia, Cap. 1.01. WHEREAS under section 41(1) of the Constitution of Saint Lucia, Cap. 1.01 Parliament may alter any of the provisions of the Constitution; AND WHEREAS under section 41(3) of the Constitution of Saint Lucia, Cap. 1.01 a Bill to alter any of the provisions of the Constitution other than the provisions referred to in subsection (2) shall not be regarded as being passed by the House unless on its final reading in the House the Bill is supported by the votes of not less than 2/3 of all the members of the House; AND WHEREAS the provisions of the Constitution of Saint Lucia, Cap. 1.01 are being altered by this Act. [ 27th March, 2023 ] BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the House of Assembly and the Senate of Saint Lucia, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 64 No. 7 ] Constitution of Saint Lucia (Amendment) (No. 2) Act [2023 Short title 1. This Act may be cited as the Constitution of Saint Lucia (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2023. Substitution of secton 36 2. The principlal Act is amended by deleting section 36 and substituting the following — “Deputy Speaker 36.—(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 person to be the Deputy Speaker; and if the office of Deputy Speaker falls vacant at any time before the next dissolution of Parliament, the House shall, immediately or in any event no later than the following sitting of the House, elect another person to that office. (2) The Deputy Speaker may be elected either from among the members of the House who are not members of the Cabinet or Parliamentary Secretaries or from among persons who are not members of the House. (3) A person who is not a member of the House shall not be elected as Deputy Speaker if — (a) he or she is not a commonwealth citizen; or (b) he or she is a person disqualified to be elected as a member by virtue of section 32(1) or 32(4) or by virtue of any law enacted in pursuance of section 32(2), 32(3) or 32(5). (4) A person shall vacate the office of Deputy Speaker — (a) in the case of a Deputy Speaker who was elected from among the members of the House — (i) if he or she ceases to be a member of the House, or 65 No. 7] Constitution of Saint Lucia (Amendment) (No. 2) Act [2023 (ii) if he or she becomes a member of the Cabinet or a Parliamentary Secretary; (b) in the case of Deputy Speaker who was elected from among persons who were not members of the House — (i) if he or she ceases to be a commonwealth citizen, or (ii) if any circumstances arise that would cause him or her to be disqualified to be elected as a member by virtue of section 32(1) or 32(4) or by virtue of any law enacted in pursuance of section 32(2), 32(3) or 32(5); (c) if he or she is elected to be Speaker. (5) 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. (6) 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 or from among persons who are not members of the House, as the House may elect for the purpose. 66 No. 7 ] Constitution of Saint Lucia (Amendment) (No. 2) Act [2023 (7) A person who is not a member of the House and is elected as the Deputy Speaker shall not take part in the proceedings of the House, except when he or she is presiding.”. Passed in the House of Assembly this 7th day of March, 2023. CLAUDIUS J. FRANCIS, Speaker of the House of Assembly. Passed in the Senate this 17th day of March, 2023. ALVINA REYNOLDS, President of the Senate. SAINT LUCIA PRINTED BY THE NATIONAL PRINTING CORPORATION CASTRIES 2023 [ Price : $3.00 ] 19 No. 2] Constitution of Saint Lucia (Amendment) Act [2023 SAINT LUCIA No. 2 of 2023 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS