THOMAS R. WALCOTT v THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF SAINT LUCIA

,.~' ~ I \ \ SAINT LUCIA ~ -j: IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE \ , " '-~ ,':L,'+" : '..,./ ;, "jI.. r r c (CIVIL) ,I Suit N~ , 629/1995 -;t:. In the Matter of the Sections 79(1} 110 (1) and 118 (1 ) of the Const~tution of St. Lucia ; Between: -:t THOMAS R. WALCOTT Applicant and C - .:s :x V THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF SAINT LUCIA Respondent Appearances Mr. Velcn ~on~ ~cr Appl cane ~r. ~r~ 2_ ~~ c~as, 50~ ~ c = ~~ ~e~era~ f =cr ~escondent <:( 1995: September 28th, 29th October 31st 1996 : J anuary 24th J U D G MEN T d'Auvergne J. I --I "$ [\\ 3y :"1"/0 ~oe i ces ~ .;: the ......,""- - .-.. ,....., _~~ ......... __ _ '-' .J.. _ __ _ ::: C :: ::--_e -. +- ~...., Sept.ember, ~ 99 5 App l': cant. applied :.:::; :::e and _ - ____ h :our-:. ::::;r c er:.a~n declarae~on s -:::s :::;rde rs. ~ C" ~ >., ,,,, - , .., t" "" ~. ": ~("'- - ~' ~' '" .~y~ ~~~c:~-"-i--~""; -1"---< -';::--y 'ts in ~ ___ ~ _ 'NO __ 0 _ c ~s ~l.. .. ,~ _ _ _ __ :Jc_:::. __ i C_ <"'; __ ~c:. ,- -=~ _'-.1'--<. ':'l.._-=_ pOln "-..) It l i mi ne were :.aKen ~ nc ~e~ _~ec _~, :.ne ~o c~ ~n was :::;r :::;c eec wi:~:::;uc :~e :: a ~ = -~ :ne ; c v e r ncr ; ene ra_ -~ Sa ___ ,- r:Jj ~ he dec~a rati ons and c r der s app~ ~ ea : :::;r were: r- C-r J:) ~.~ :';': '.:' { (1) A Declaration that the Respondents contravened Section 79 of / the Constitution o f Saint Lucia by l ayi ng on the t able of the House o f Assembly the Estimat e s of Expenditure for the year 1995 / 96 on Thursday the 6th June 1995. I.i (2 ) A Declaration that the Second reading of the s a id Est imates of Expendi t ure nor. be Llg i n camp l i anc e with Sec t: ion 68 of the Stand ing u r de r s of t: he House o f Assembly and Section 79 o f the Consti tucion was ultra v ires che powe r s conferred upon the Respondents. (3 ) A Declaration t hat che pas sing of che Est:imat es for the f ina ncia l year ~9 95 / 96 by t he saint :::"uc i a Hous e o f Assembly and Parliament is null and void. ( 4 ) ( 1 ) A Declarat ion that t he Re spondenes cone ravened Sections 1 10 :: 1 ) and 1 18 (1 ) o f the Const:itution of S ' - ' . r' 1 ' , alne L UCld DY Lal L lg co a p::;:-c :..:;::: - -~ es t ?bl i sn a Par l i ame ntary ~omm i ss i on er and Int:egr i t y Commission ~espectively. (2 ) l\.n order ,:hac t: he said Governor-General be ordered to conform to che said provisions o f the said Constitut i on and t o bri ng int o e x i stence '""ithin da y s t he ?arl iament ary Commis s ioner and the Integric y Commission . Such f u r the r o ther order , declaratio ns o r orders as c his Honourable ~urt deems right and ~ u st. ~h at: -he c osts o ~ ~~l ' ~ - ~ r ~ 0n ~g ~ o r~ e ~v ~ ~ e ~ t~0Y ng 'l ~en e ra l J. __ ... J- ___ ':' .1. ::::; :.::t L ,- ~,-,,·;, ;-../'- ~ ..... __ ;.J '- ... ~ ~;.. '-- '--: ...... .:. "-- .... \...:J..L • T::1e .:\.pp licant Thomas ','-ialcoc t :::ieposed cy .3. f£::.davit:s che following : AFFIDAVIT 1 (l ) "I am a c it izen o f Saint :;:';ucia , -focer and p a y er o f ;: a xes to the Gove rnme nc o f St, ~ u cia, a n ~ x Senacor o f c ~ e Sa i nt Luc ~ House o f As s embl y and a : i v il ~ ng i neer, 2 ) On Thur s day c~e 3 c ~ :une , :'9 94 c~ e 4 c ~ ~ ~ c:~ n g of c h e 2nd - ' _ . ~ eSSl on o r :~ e ~cus e _:c._8semb : "; : ~. e =: sr. =- :-nat e s .~ ...: =::x p endi ture for the - . , - :

2.nanc ~ a _ ",rear , ·:. a ~ , - h - ~ ~~ ! 'j ~ 'Nere _ Ci :l.. C ~ n = ~e -::'a bl e o f t he s a i ~ heuse by : h e ~es Do nd e n c s , '::'hac :he 1 a y ~ ::. g ~~e 3 a ~ Q 2 s :~ ~ aC2S =c c u r re a a ~ ; rcxima t el y r ~ a t) a a v s a f : e r : ~ e ~ na 0 : : ne c ."':e = ~ :-: ar: c: =-a -.:.. -.rea r :" 9 9 4 / 9 5 4 ) The said 1aYlng =f :~e sa i d e sc imace s bv : h e ~ i n i sce r o f Finance was : n d i r e c : v iclac i o n o f Sec c~ o n ~Q o f the C ons c i t uc ~ o n - ~ Sa:n: _ uc ~ a and : ~u s ~ak : nG a _ _ o r c ces s e s and ~ :: 3~ rU me !i_ ts ~ tlCt li. ct L ~: _ ~ :: h e .:'.:e £2:c m ..:nc o ns c i c--::' ::::.:: 1 :;: n q c he r e f c r e n u _ _ a n a ~ o : a, . ...; One 0 ..L :' :1e :.::s t. 2:.-·--':':Tte::c S ~m an a L .: ::. g =:: e~ e : ~ :::;:t1 :':-:E Appropriaci o n 3 i1 : and ~ h i ch accor ding c o S ecc ~ o n Q ~ ( 1 ) o f t h e Standing 'Jr d e r ." ~ '-"..I- cne 20u se c f Assembl y ~a s De i n a ccoraan ce wi : h Secciori 7 9 ..:. , c~e 8a 2. d : c n s c ~:u c ion . , 6 ) .:;'s a :: =-:::.. z e :" -,-2 ::' -:: 2: .:ind -= 3.X ::; d. ~'le ::- -::: :.. s Sc a::::: s.n d :n the - - race o r a~ _ e g ac:c n s corrupc : c n c n :~e oar: :'::: 8 Gover nmenc , ~ -. , : nc ~ u a : ng :~e ml sus e ~ ~e : ~ ~ s o l~ ja c e d ~ un d and -; ... . a ~~ e ga L ::"' ~~ ; a ~~ - " ~ av e n e ce ss ~ c a c ea -: :-.e ~ s : a D ..L .:snment 'Nhi c h o f a : o mm2. S S ~c:: =: :"':CU':.:::::"1 ~\I -: .:-:e ~c \le::,-:: c :c - '~ e~ e =::- 3. i. a m p- ~ --.. 0 ~ a na a eme r;. c __ :-,.e : ':':-: 3.':: C :"' 3. -.:.. ",na : ~sca.L - , . - , - c onc ernea - \-.. -- _ ... _-:.."'1 '- affairs of : ::e S t a ce ~as ceen c c mc r cm ~ sea c ~ e dec r ime n c o f myse2.': a n a a 1. _ : ax ;ay :ng c ~: ~ zen s (7) Further t:hat t: s perce ation of the Constitut the Government of Saint ~ucia c my faith in the integri ty of - said Government I its esses and and puts inco ~uest~on s Government 3nd - Governor- S ~cYr ~ntenc~on, ~ncegrlcy ~na ect my essent~ai ~~~n-s - Y'\ t"'"'i ..- ~ ......... \..-1.. ::is "~r...sr~!"=-::ea >- .::-'..,e sa '~'J~lst':"::~tion . _ make chis A£fidav~- _rem my su"CnJcr:: f c 8) :v1otion l~eQ - __ ere~n. AFFIDAVIT 2 reads as follows: - have ~995 ~e 3:o\Je::c::..cr '~eY'"' ..... e:c-a __ .. as _ail t:o est ish c~ _ne tat:e ~ Sa~n- 3D =::::egr:':: SSlCr: -",", r< ::;''':'..i,.\"A,. ::35 '3. 30 :2tl_'2Q

3.·cee.::-,:: ?arliament:a-=.y ~--ener as mandat:e ::8 :ne =onst:_c~t:~en alnt: _uc~a =.Tld :: 0 '! -.-aLe ~ 5~on :~-ns .~s a Clc~zen oonscit:ucicna_ ~s~cns or ... ,"-~J.e ::ar~ - ~ r::':cr - -, - are a..l..loweQ, . - . 3.T:a : -reeClcms ssent~a-,- -~er' -nu L. y ~s ~'" -.::rJ.shr": ~ ~:-:'2 ct _ ,--'. '::::-:S 1: _ :. ',-,-:':':::: ~- :: :-,_re at: ene':J. and secur=- :" ::3:.~.c-=-_-=-:-r" ~c"Y'::la_ ..... r"rYAY""'\(""tC c:..f ...... ...... '::::,,-~ ... -.......'- ~, ....... .~;.e ~bservance I a-,-_ oenst:~:~~lcna_ rOVlSlcns t: e .8e . - SUDvert.ea 3.na :tr:3.:::c::~y~ =..na -cnst:l_~te t:he . . . . ...,. - ,-.- ~ .... ~ "Y' -.. ,,-.. ~ ~ ~_,-,-...::t~'-.,./ ::::::::.:..J.. ..... "-', polit.:"cal =~~os time. ) ?urt::er ......, '"'r-<' - - - ".,,-. .?. ____ ::::~ct ___ ~_;::;, _'r~;:c - :::-:s ::e .:::cvernment ,- ,.... . - - '"' . I 1: :... C ..... a 1. S a ~ .:::1 -,v i_:' .= Y: S :..... ':1 a ..:... __ e cat. :. '"- _ ... S :3. r :::. :: e c e s s ::-.- -=- a't escablishmer.t: ,::.. '::=-:-:-1ITllSS:'2r.. _::al:.': -r-/ :=. __ e ~over:10r- General, ~ecess~~~~~ _~e ~s~~c __ .:'ir. :'.- egr~:.y Commisslcr. and - :ommissio:-le::c. (5) Further still t he allegations of Government mal practices and which has necessitated international agencles like the United States Agency for =nternational Development Corpora t i on, the :Jnl' ted- Nat ~ ons - Y',- ~ y-",--.; o"'a ' ' y-"a ~""nt"Y"r' - ::;Y''"''aramme 'UND") l. ...... __ _ __ '-" ...... .l. c:t l. _ .l,. .... ..L _' ............. _,-,' .... ..... '-...1 _ _ _ ......... .- ..... , _. ehe Group ~ f 5evencv Seven G....,.., ' - I , ana e ~e ?erez-Guerera, to d - - - - '. . - . , emand ~er~nas . - a ~ a ~ c n l e s grantea :c~ 9r cJeces In Saint ~ uc la , ~eCe?Sle~Le ~~~ _ , ec ea~ ccmD~~ance ~ieh the s aid a nd ~ e l e van e C ~CVlSl C ~ S c ~ e~e Saln : _~C l a :cns c_~ueion. . 0 ) :: u r::'!'"1er :3::a-ce : :'.a ::: :::::e _2tY l :1g ,':n :::e :'3..c_ e :::e House o f ~ ssemblv ...,~ :ne ~Sc l ~ate s - ~ ~xD e ndic~ ~e C~ c ne ~ cvernment on C.:le 3t:;' 0u::-:e ~ as =cnc~arv Se c e~c~ . ;:: :::he said Cc nsei::: ~ tl cn, ~nd : n a : :~e e nsu l n g ~pprcpri a:i c n 3i1l was in con c~avent~ on -~ 5ec::: ~ o ns of :::ne 5t andi~g J rders o f the House of ~ss e mb l YI and t h u s making ::: he management of all financi al - -, ~ - ~nc :~ sca~ ~aL~e ~S ~~ :;lV -:::)ur.:.C:::-"i : ,::!.'" :nac period i l l eaal ana ~~-= c n S tl_ U el cna1 '7 \ , f : n :'.:1:"S l1O::a.SS i 1 _ e ga l~eies a na ac _ease ~uese l onable conduce en e~ e cart ~ ;:: :::he Govern o r - General a n d :::ne ':;overnmenc ::= 33.:'::::' -='.1c .:a I as 3. cl : izen and : ax p a y e r r i ghc1y fear :::ha : ~v cont ributi on ::: ne ~evenues ~ f the Stace Wl~ _ oe =nlaw I u __ y iealt ~ith and ~ou ld be in no o o s iticn co =::: i 1 ise : he of fic e o f e ne ?ar_~amen t a rv Commi ssioner ~ c r lnvc~e ehe cowers cne - . _:-::e g~ :. =:1 Commission aaa ~es s my =o nce ~ ns . , 8 ) AS a f crme ~ :-:te rnCE::: :::e Se::la:'2 ~ J.e:r;cc ~ at.:.= .:::ountry g J:~e a. t._ -.; :2a~ :::~a e i e sc c ~ a = i: ~~l n '::: ~ C _ 2 S =ccn ~nich this counc~v was ~~ u ~ deG ~~~ ~r a dua l_ j ana l~s ~ i l CUS L Y being ercaea. In che 25th Sept ember ~ 995 :~e ~ c11 c wing a ffii a vi =s ~e~ e filed o n They are reproduced i n the i r ent i rety . AFFIDAVIT IN REPLY ~ "~ .,.. J ..... :?e du l :: J r cnara , i n the If LORRAINE BERNADINE WILLIAMS Qu a rte r o f Gras Islet l ~ ::~e Stace of Scil~C ~~c l a. ~t : orn e y - At-Law , ~ake oath and s ay a s f o l : o ws : I hold the o ffice o f Attorney General - ~ Sai~t ~ucia a nd a rr the Secon d :?e s Donde nc n a me d - ~ :nlS a C::lon . am a :nemce ::::- ::~ce ~D Der :-:ouse ~'- ?a2:"=- =- ame!lL and thus a Sen a c or . 3 . I am a dvised bv :ounse l for :he :?espondencs and verily b e li e v e : h a c ~ l :: h reSDec: :na:::: s rs s u e n as :: ne l a y ing o f :::scima c e s :::xDe!1d i : -...:.re .:::..:::; ~ 2at:.-=-:::-ed oy the ~ . ,-or1 8 'C l Cli C -<.0 e n :::a l r:.t. ~~e l a - ;:;.: ~.:;; '-'0. .1>...1' -.:;: '-' _ number ,...,<= variables bocn ~ l: h i n and ou c s :.de o f Saln: ., ,..., .... -. -.:Ul..... ........ c:l • 4 . . 3m aci\/ i s e'i =., "'V" - h CY'" _ """ ...... '- ~';' ''-' - cv -=c :..: :-:.se~ - . :\e sco neen c s a n d . , . _. . r;P _ _ . . . ve rl~ Y De ~ lev e :nae cecause":ne varlac~es as a rOreSalQ lt - f\ is noc alway s po ss l D~e :0 comply sc rlo::y ~l c h :: he l ecte r o f t he =O !1 SC l :: ~ e l o n i n chi s r e g a ro . ~ am advised f~r:n e r 8ci __ DV - - ___ ::;unS2 _ :.ne :?esDondent s '-' ... ~ '- - - : on:ex : aIores a l ~ so '-- ~ I"'V - '-" - ~ '-' on e :::S:l:nac e s of ::-:a t ..:...-. .... :-..... ,;::::. ~xDe~d~~ ~ ~ e ~r ~ _ ~ ~~ a na appro v sc cy. :ne ~ouse of ... :;'8 s eme 1 '"/ -,..i ':" -=- ~-: .:.. =-_ :~ '2a s c:-: ·3..c e - - ....... e 3 =:, ::: ::'- one time sne el=::. s a _ ... _e :~ r:St.~C:":C=- ::: :1 :.:-:.e~e _.3 ::-'.:.0 -,7:" C; --.. a C":'OI1 \..Jr concraventicn ~ ~ :ne said :onsci:~: ::. on . :'~.i.e er.:: :.. :::::"e :-:--.ac :-:'2-:-'le 2:'''1/ ::u c:::.:=- are p~2 s enc _ y :perac ::.ng on :ne ~sc ~ m at es of :::xp end ~c ~r2 3pprc ved cy

7.I am advised by Counse l fo r the Respondents and verily believe that no ~seful purpose c an be served by the pray er for :~e d e c~ arati on s wi:~ respec: to t~e l aying i n and 3.pproved by, : ::e [{ouse _-' .L .c,.ssemD~y 8! : ::1e Sstimatils o f Sxpendit~ r e ~or : ::1e ~in anci a l ye a r : 9 95/:9 9 6 . I am a dvised bv :eunse l ~ or the ~ e sp o n d e nes and verily believ e :::a[. -:. :-.e .::;"pp~il.:an: - ;,:, :-,.c·c 2!"lt. ::..:...ea :: 0 the declarations souahe and humb ~ y pray ::::a: c h i s Honourable : ':)U2: :: ::' ':'S rrt. l SS ~c~ ~~ ~ ~ n a ~ w a~~ : :::: ses ::0 the ::<"esDor:de!':t.s . AFFIDAVIT I, JACINTA ST HELENE -:r: :'cn, ~_ uar['2::- ,-, a.s :. ~ :" eSf hereby ~ ake e aeh a n a savas : c __ cws : no~a :: he = ~ ~ ::: ~~c i ~e po s e ~;:':~L..C ~./' --., ~ ~./"'::: ,_ . .. .-... ~ .. - o f ?inance (Fiscal ) i n t he ~ublic serVlce o f :: ne ~over n ment o f Saine -,UC l a . L. ~~ "'-' ~.:. :t!ay , _. -- -"- was 3CDOlncea bv : ne 3cvernor-General ac::3.S :irec::er:f ?i::.a::.ce ·.vi eh =:£ : ec:: :rom l8 th Aprl l , :9 9 5 , ~ n t i: 3lse Augu st , :395 . 30c:: :is :JeDl::: "ll =-=-~-2C :' 22:' cf ?:':-:ar:c e 3.::::0. a,s .:"'c ::=-::c:r :)i r e ctor :' _=--.arice __ ':::t. c: ~ eor ~ .. _ :-::'\TO _ -.tee: : .::e revenue -:-=X'CE:!:.C1 2..:. ure of pr epa.raz.~ 0n =:":"",,. -.. _,- .... \...A ,....... C. = ... :1:-lua ~ -=SL. -=- T((~.'C.-==S :~ e c1-:8.ge c .:... ...... ..;... 4 . That wi e h respece ::ne ~sel~aees .::...-.....- =.. 99= ,- ?5 ::.here has bee n a n u n us ~ a ~ =e~a v causea ov - >1 i:::.. .s L ~ =-es and =eDa r:':-::2!:.,-::: .\, - - _. ;::;ud g ec a r y requirement whi ch is as a r esult o f the:ir concentrat ion on post Tropical Storm Debbie rehabil i t ation work; ~. ( b ) ~he on - going negoc iat ions 'tJi th t he unions rep res enting public officers with :::-espect to salarie s and ~ ther conditions of service meant t hat accur ate provisions could ~oc be in21uded in estimaces and tje budget; \ 0 ) =ndusc:::- i al accion bv certai ~ public o fficers affected, noc only the Mi nistry o f Finance, but also other Minist:::-ies and Departrnencs which had a cumulative negative ef f ect on tDe preparat i on of the eseimates and the budge t , ~ . ;'.1 though t here nas been a cie l a y ..L ';"J, the Laylng o f the csti:7laces for =-995 / 96 S1'r:1'> c.S !': ~ TT1:=tr e "" had to be l aid ne vert he l ess since a fte r the scaeucory period the Governmenc o f Saine ~ucia wou ld have Deen wlcho uc supp ly . 6 . ~he records ac the Ministry o f Financ e i ndicaee that in f i ve o f ~asc SlX years t he ~ stimaces ~ t" V ~ Expenditure were laid in the House of Assembly during the monch of April . The e xecueion relates to the financial vear 1992 / 1993 when t he ~stimates o f ~xpenditure we:::-e ~aid on June 24, ::"'992 . AFFIDAVIT If MARINA HENRY-YARDE of 3agatelle Road, : asc:::- i e s , jereby make oa th and say as follows : am 30': :..ng tne cose ? ar _i ame~e having ceen a ppoln t ea so ace with e r =ece f:::-om 7th June, 1 993. " . :. ~ . . ; 2. By a Proclamacion given by His Excellency the Governor General on 2nd J une, 199 5, it was appointed t hat a Session of the ~ou se of Assembly be held on Thursday, 8th June, :995 for : he despacch c £ OUD~:C c us~~ess . A tI<fie copy o f ehe s a lei :?reclamat.::..e n :..s pr educed shewn to me, an nexea nere ::c: ana :narJ<:ea ':1.S ~xhiD~:: " YlHY - ! I .) .7c,. '0ZJ.r c yf :"N orescr: :'::::ed :::iL:e :.. e s CiS ::::::'er.<: '::.f:?ar l iament e ~ t.alJ .. s s e~di :"g 3. 'tJr:::.ten .::e c:..ce :0 -2 3.ch :7lembe r o f the ~.ouse ~ ~ Assembl y direccing 3.t.tenc:..on Ci :?roclamation summonE lg ::.he ::euse 3.nd 3.1.se :he preparing '"J I verbat im Minut.es c f :: r: e ~:::-o c eed i ::1 g s : ~ e :-:o u se ::..nc luding the names ~ ~ : ~e ~ emb er s . 4 . '...,l .J.... che s a id Proclamac' en ::; t ~is 2xcellency -=n conseauence ,-.. - che Governor- General , :'J.o t. i ces were s e!'.c : e 3.1. _ :nembers of t~e Heuse of As s embly ~ich reSDecc : he Sessien thereof ::.c De n ::.~ a on :~e sth ~ 9 95 ~ ::::n ehe s a i d Be.:: ~une, ~ 9 9 5 :ne f i r s c ~e e c ::.. ng o f the new Sess ien ~ ~ :ne ~ o L:se o .f Asse mb _! ~ as n e ~a ~nd cresided over cy : ne SpeaKer of ehe ~o use. 6 . '\ ,.. .-.. L.. ::.ne said 'YIeec i ng of :.J.e ~ o u s e :~e 2seimates of 2xDend i -:....:r e 3.r..d ?eve r:.ues f or ~ ? 9 S , ?- 6 ',ol e r e _a i d I n the s aid ~-: C U S e ;:;v :. ;-,_e ?-.:.crc.:: ~~ c' n. our3.b=- -= ; :::.me >~i n ist:er and ~ i !'. i s c e r ~ ~ =::..:::a!'.CE, :?l 3.n!'.ing a n d ::::eve _cpme !'.::. 3.3 part of ':..le bus l:""',ess :ne sa::..d :-ie use Ci S 3e c ~ UL __ 1. 1 : l1e Order ,-' '-'''r"' '\ r PaDer, .=\.n ::: ::::.. :; ::.. :-:a..:. '- '-"~ .1 :. ::e Sal:=1 :: ~ j e~ :?ape r i s p r o aUC 2 '~ f SDOfIJn :' 8 ~ e I -::inne XeCl :-:e 2:" ~ t. ,:) ;. r..a :TId.C .. <.ea as 2xhibi: " "v1 j..;" ',T ~~sse !'T1 1:, ~ ~/ :-:s __ = =- = t:. h June, : 99 5 : ne ~e cer: :::: c ~m ::..e~~e o n ehe Es e imaees ::: xr::e ~di -:. ·..1.re

8.At a meeting o f t he House of Assembly he l d on 1 3th J'une, 1995 the Appropria tion Bi ll received Fi r st and Second Readi ng. ~

9.At a meeting of the House of As sembly held on 14th June , 1995 the App ropriacion Bill, 1995 / : 996 was read a Third Time a nd Pas sed . 10 . At the said meeting o f the House of As sembly ~eld on 14th June, 19 95 when c. he j ,ppropriatio n Bill, 1995 / 1996 was Read a ~hird Time and Passed :welv e me mbers o f :he Hous e of As s embly ?o t:. ed "Aye" a n d :here 'Nere :: ive members of t he sald House ~ ~ ~ "- .ll,.ssembly r e corded as absent . 11 . The Honourable Speaker o f the douse o f Assembly has g r anted me permission [0 lise :he Order Paper aforemen c.ione d in chis macter . An origina l c opy of the s aid permi s si c ""1 ,) f' - ,", ~ :L: :-"Gural')le SDe aKe r is p roduc ed , s hown c o me , annexed he r eto a nd marked as exhibit:. "MHY 3.

12.I was presen c. ~n the douse o f Assembly at all meetings thereof held oecween 8th 0une , 1995 and 14 t h 0une, 1995 in my capacity as Clerk o f ?arl i amenc . On c h e 26th Sept ember -: ::e :ollowins .:;ff i davi t .... /as :: il e d by the Attorney-Ge neral: SUPPLEMENTARY AFFIDAVIT I N REPLY I, LORRl~IN .c; BERNADINE WILLIAMS ~.;:: ~edui-: ::::r cha rd . in th e Q~ -, ~,..... ...... LctL..t:: ~t:orney-A t -Law, Qua rc.er of Gros =slet:. in ::::he :::: r:: .:3a i nc ~u.cia! make oath and say as ::ol l ows: I hold :he o f:ice of At : crnev General :3a lDc Lucia and am the Second ~es p onde nt n a mea ~ . -\. 2. I am a member o f the Upper House o f Parliament and as such a Senator. 3 . I am advised ;:)y :ounsel : or the ~espcndem::s a.nd veriw believe chat. : ~ 15 . ~att.er which :5 ~ow be fore this Honcura.ble ~cur: _5 an a.Duse of croces s :cr :~e :ollowing reasons: a) 3y::::r _; inat. ing ~ot.i::::: e of YfOt. ::C.l the .~pp lic ant ~ homa s ~. ~ alcot.t t ne App':" i ::ant. , :::o: ~menc ed act. ion ~c :-:i::::n ==:ur'C 3.11 -:2:.-je ~ :=rohibition ~::::.~eC :' 2 '::J. a. .... :ne 30vernor Genera.':" , tne 3cvernment. of - = ~ .... ..- . _ ...... 1. __ __ __ =-uc :. a -=~~ 8ugh : ~_e ~~ t :. :: ~:-:e '(.; ~ e ~_e~a. _ and the Sneaker o f : ne House cf ~ssem;:)~ y ~ re ve nt. them - " -' .- -" . 1 :rom ::ommenc:.ng a 3:.:::: :.ng 0 := :. ~e "ous e ~ - .'"'I.ssemn y a.nd ell- "dD l C ':: Sl:t.::ng :ne ~st. :: ~a ces ~xpenditu res ::tT"'.:.Q :<e \l e~il:eS :8:: -.:.he :.:::ar: c.:..3.~ ~: ~ eay ~ -.~ ~C:: 06 were to ;:;e _3 ':":: ce : "-... ::",~:.

33.=_~. ""-.:" r-. .. .. " c-. -=-~·....:. e ::opy o f cne 3a.:..:: :~~ oc':" : r:. .:.s D r c ci~c e d ',~ e a.ne: ';"',an<ed and , . . -=Xfll.c':'CeQ 3.S 1\ ~3W - " ', Di ~::'e >'lc t.-=- ::: r:.. (:ame c;rl :or ~:e ar:" :-' .. g :: 2= =re : :: :"' .3 '::ourt: on :.:-:e _- ":.lYle, ::.9 95 and :ne ~cn ':" ican: - ...... on ...... .. ~'- _ ... scught and :::bt.a.ined ':"eave Wl:naraw t he ~ct ::cn on the ;round :na: s :.n:::::e ?a.r':"ia.menc nad ceen convened and tne ~st.:: ~a t. es ~ ~ ~xcendi=ur e ana ~evenue had been _ 3. 2.G., :.nese -::'len 1: S ~ :a.a :.:.-e~ ae Y 9Q :: uga : ery t he app ~:: cat. :: c n t or prchibi:icn , ". '-"" ." '::i.~mmcns 'N:':,:'. :::: ,=-=,:,:: rr:e~ :: ;::'V 'tlr ::: .~ "'nonrsed - ~o -~9P.l:.car:= 3. 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I I I ' . 1 , I OJ TJ 'd r: .• I lJl n I' If] Vl 0) U () c ~ :.> " J It) 0 1 ·. 1 III .. r: I I ,I }. I () q l " ) I I r.:: 'n Q) .<: Q) u ~ '0 o ill Tl 'd c: I I ~ I 0, ~ I :1 () r J (I! .I.l , I ni . c~ )..~ :: ... 1 fn I ) (I) () I I " I , I II I.ll , I ' I I I , : ([I ',1 F~ !>- I o III r: (1) Ul '(l ~~ o W, (I] ill IYo I) " ' < 11). ! } .1 ' ) () I I ~ I n ' I I '. , " u ' , 1 UI 0, (;, , I rn u H 0." m -1,·1 II) OJ (J) III ., I ,{ : , I I.J I I .1 • 1 , 1 .-, It) U) < 1~ I I ~ I (J, . c~ • 1 " I 'II ~ .: ;") () I ) ;:J () I I I) I .. ) r. (1J .1-) '.-1 . (i ~ : (II , I , .. 1 ,~ (jJ ill .0 ~-! (V 'd -, ~ . : 0., E: () (J o ) I ~I ;:l ·U OJ U () r.lJ rn ;:l .0 Q) ,r: }--l o 'el .0 I) ~ I I), ill ,t"! )..; o (ll , , · -' 1 I ! tJ) :j o 'f) , I I I ~ I II .' () ill (I] c: ;J o () 1) ,.I " I 0) U :x: II] (I ) ,r: .1' ! OJ ,1: I) r: ., I H :3 '0 -.-1 "I III n) I ) (]) U - j 'd o c: · .1 ~ I ) ( '-l ~)I m OJ (Yo , - I , I • 1 " I (I I I y , 1 ',-I • I UJ tJ ru UJ ~i , 1 "'; m I.J )..1 o PI ~4 (), J I "1 , I f .-.~ (11 1~-1 o OJ U) .C: II If) U ' 1 ~ ',I ~ en 1-1 u !l1 .c: ~j () \fl 'd , · 1 " , : , ! " I ( J 'd I) Q) ..c ~.~ ill 'd (Il ., . 1 ~4 ~ 0.1 V .j..J ('I , I OJ E n:l IIJ 3 o r: ;:l (I) (li ~ I I) III (]) u ;J I J " I " I rtJ r.~ ;:l o ( ) ;j U r) OJ I) " I , 1 UJ (i) ~, u (t) ,r ~ I I (j) I I qj '(1 I ) '" () 4-1 o OJ ~, I 'd ~I OJ ,( i (lJ .r: ) 1 1-) o ill m 'd ~ ) /~ >. .0 I ! " , , -I m (Ii ~-:: o 0, (fJ OJ ry. () I I }-~ II) ' II m ~1 (V U) ', 1 J: , e ' (I) , ,I 0) '0 (]J II I J Ul ,..; () u I ) (11 (lJ c: ;J () r ) ~ ! 0) 0, () :- I i1) I ) LI (I I , I (fJ tJ ) I: " I '(1 . (1 'd (]) o ~ : () ·,1 1· 1 U Ili () ( I 0) , I ~: ;:l () ( I >. p, o u ~ I OJ ,.' .'\'. , {II 'V U) ill (]) > (lJ ., I ... ·1 L.J (t) .r! I' u (f) c: ',-I ,: u , I I) U (r) ~ I 1-1 1]) , I ill U) - r-j I I , I (V (JJ ti' r: ~ I ill Q E qj 0) 0) U () (" (lJ III , I , Q) .0 ~j (fJ rn OJ " " , 1-) ) ) I I I (V s: F, ~J m m ,.1 " '" '0 > 'd .r~ (J UJ b) '" ", 'r; '0 III b, III tJ (11 01 'I II Q) ~ H V III , I c: (1) ~~ 0, I.J (1) .C: I.J I.J o ,: E (t) ~: OJ (fJ 0) E n:l IV > (jl ' <1 "- I .-1 (lJ 'd ) .. 1 1,-1 VJ " I I I (J) 0) U o H 0., ~~ 0, ill ill U o H 0, ill .0 11) or- ' )..1 I I 1(\ If) (jl .{: l aying of the Estimates of Expenditure for the year 1995/96 on or about the 6th of June 1 995 was a v iolation of Section 7 9 (1 ) of the Constitution and a fundamental infringement of ~ he sald Section which reads a s fo~~ ows : ~ "The Minister f ·or :.:-ce ~, :. :ne 8e 1:10 resp or.s :.~-=-= .=-~ : i:::dnce shall cause to be prepared and laid before :he ~ous e . oefore or ~ot l ater than :hir: y jays a::er the commer.c emer.: eacn financia l year esc _mates of ~ne rev er.ues ~:::d ex~e :1diture of ,-,' - - , - , , - ::,a ln'C. --"uc:.a : :Jr ::,_a~ : .:..:-:anc:.a __ "l ear . ~e contended :hat ~:1e 'dc r':: shall , ~.- - .:;:. -=:::-:: ':. e :(,= ~ar:G atory and :1ot directory . ~ e quoted Section 2 of the Finance Act No. 25 o f 19 88 which states ":inancial year" means :::e :'delve morx:--... oer :. oo -::::1d:. ::,"o '/'Jieh 31st Y1arch, n and argued ~:-:at oased on : he accve :r.e _av ~ ::c :he said ~ sL imat0s had cc ~ e ~~-- ~:::Vt l ~~ ~i:hin :he mcnt:: of ~prll 1995 and 10t beyond. ~e said :hat since :he l aying of t he estimates : ook Glace 68) sixty eight days aft e r t he const:.:utionally s : i pulated : hirty c avs -. '-' ;::' Y'::' ....-, -("'1 " __ _ " __ __ _ ""0\...4 oee::: 3.r: ..:.. :: = ::-=- :-::: e::-tE:-: : 3.[' .. 8. ~herefore ~:nar:ac :...-:-:. g : ::-.e re from were

5.-'- _ processes ::':::0 :,, ::s ~:::'--'.lrnen t.s ana -:JC ~ :J. . ..:nconstituticnal ana . - :..:--:..ere : ::;re :lui: ..",......o .. r'\ I ,r - '-- !::;--' - :' :::e ~ t :cr::ey Gene ral ~ e made reference -.- ~ r. e affidavit 5a1nt Luc ia re~ roduc ed ear lier a::o sa :.c. : ::a1: should be ~ ::: garded as :-:oC:'. =- :--.:.G ::: _ .:3 e .8~C cn ·''::(1.:.:.:.ce sar.d , since the ara ument PUt : or ~r. ~ r.at - -= c.e .i.av ~ r.e _3.V:':::C :::e ~seimates -l'Jo..s ,:1ue ~o c~~c~msc~~ces Ce~'/C ::C :~ei.~ :::Y" ... ~:'- :: _ ::e:-,_c e ~:::e reason why ~ne y ~ere t orcec Go ~::: e ;l o no : ne :::: ::::mst::"t:'_n:'::" ::n a ~ · ' .. :: ~ ;:;. r'?d thirty j a ys . ~ hen quoted :::eC': i::r, ":::;,"s t :. :: ... : t :.. ~ r, 'tJn::.. : r. reads a s ' I ::'here sha::" =- ~:r:;'7 ::" S i::r"s ~. 2.'/ .::::e~ade :;v :;arl iamene under which, if the appropriate law in respect of any financial year has not come into operation by the beginning of that financial year ehe Minister for ehe e ime being responsible for finance may authorise ehe NlehdraNal o f mon~s from the Consolidated ?und f or ehe purpose o f meeting expenditure :1ecessary in ~..J car::::-y """'Y"I ~ .i.. :.:le se r~Ji ce s of the Government :.lnti} e D8 expiration o f f our months from the beginning o f that fin a nc~al yea::::- 2::::- ene c om~ng i n~ c operation o f the law , Nhichever ~s ehe ear~ier . Learned Counsel s c ::::-enuoLsl'l arcLed enat ; - ~as ~r cardinal importance that che l aying of ene ~sci m a ces cakes clace Nithin 30 days after the 31st March and at no l a cer date for eo do so Nould amount to a contraventi on of che sald : o nst~tLt~on. He further quoted Secti on ~- _ i o r ene : onscie~ c ~ o n which states: "There shall De such ~~rov isio n as :na v .8e ::1ade .8y ?arliament fo r the establlc~ -.. ~.:. '_:' ")f = :C;f:.C inssnc i es ? '_:.:1d ana :or authorising ehe Min~ster for ene time oeing responsible for finance if s atisfied enat enere has r :.sen an :.l ::::-ge nt and ~n foresee!l :-:eec -= ---' "v" .::::-<ce?::di ::.:..::--= :::r ~ h i c n oener provi sion exiscs f : 8 ~na.K.e 3.dv or'_ces :rc,m ~ ::at. _ 1_:n.ci ''':-lee: -:::at: need lt • He referred co the a f:fidavi c C;I -:;-acinca ::=:t. ,-:e.;..ene ::::-eproduced earlier ) . ,jacinta St . Hel.er:e '=:'eCCSeC __ ... ct L. , "That with ::::-eSDect :. -:; :.::e .::..st:.:"l1at:es ~-. -.-j...... • ...... ;.-., - -" -,' -' - ~ onere nas Deen an :.lnusual delay causea. AJ '{ • (a) Late submissions ;:;v ene -la r::...ous Mi:-:i s t: ::::-::...::::s and :::;epartments wi th respect: - ~ -'-"' :.:--_e:.:::.- 8uage\:ar:' ~e au :"re!T'. er: c ·,,,,hich is as a ::::-esult of enei :::: cas e ::... ~~ _ 3torm Debbie - \;, (b) The oB-g"mrtgr ne:g;ptiationsw-ith the Umans representi~.~.A.-"; off'icers wi en respect to salaries and other condi1tI0D8c ei': ~:,"\:' <c " ,:', ",;~ service meant that accurate provisions could not be included in the estimates and =he budgec. i (c) I ndustrial act ion oy :::ercain public :::f:: ::" c:ers at ::ected, not only the Ministry :.)f ?::"nance, out:. a} so ~c:.:-_er Ylinistries and ~~0 _ .... Ct '-'- =~m u...:.. a 1: ~ "I e :--_egac =- -/e ~ =:2C':. on the Departments ~ n~ c: ~ 8reDara c ~on ~ f =~e ~s~ ~ ~aLe s ~na -: ne 8UCC2C. ~earned Counsel a r gued =~ac , - ~as ~ .:... =~e :;::aramc ~~ c ~ ~p cr c a nce that ::"t be kept in ~ ind, =hac =~e :::cncraveneicn ~as againse t:.he :onscitution che iignesc law :::f c~e ~ an d and =~ cc ~ d ~ ec:c: o n :2 0 of ehe said Const::"cuticn ~h i c ~ reads e~~s : TP~his Con s[=--: ~ c-=-:::·n. ~s :.~ e .s u "C re ~e _3.\v ::3.:"'::: ~ :..:. c: : a and - ........ 0 = :::::.sc~c ·...:c:"on, if sub-iece : 8 crov:..s:.:;:-.... S Sec-:-=- :::: any othe:!:: _ O-w :.:-: =r--~~::: t:.e !1t: '.vl::: -:.:1l.,) = 2ns c ~ :. -~ c':' o n I chis Constituc:"on sha: : or ev ail and e~e :.) c~er :aw shall , t o the ex'Cend o f che ::"n c ons~st:ency t ~ e -70 ::":::.' :ie :::oneended :.:-:at. :..::e ",'10:;::- :: shall = .. ~e =:::nsc :c~eion was i mperaeive t ~andatory and :::bliga cory and::.:.!uct:.ed Lord Denning in Bradbury and others v Enfield London Borough Council 1968 1 WLR Page 1311 at Page 1324. ".:'he 0epare:nent:. ::"'~'~f'~ - - ~'--'-'-"''- '"' .. - -- -- :7~ ::-:'Q _ = C 3..- .::.'.J.',J.:::3.::''=''' :: :- _~ '..:.c ~: ::Jr icv are subject. :'0 the ~ 'J.l.e ~ ::: _3..'w ana -::lust =8mD _"/ -.v'i. :'':--_ -'..l SC :'ike everyone e.l. se. :::ven =~~cs ~ ou_= ~esu_~ , ::-:'e _aw :nusc be (:-;neyed and at "Page 1325 Darkwerts L., 2Ci.:'~ ~:-;-"c e rac: ve chac ehe Drocedure ~ aid down ~~ =~e relevane scaC'..:.=2S s~cu~= ~ e properly :)bserved. -=:'he :::::rovi s i o::s ~ne s t. 3.C-"':I:.:::S ..-. - c:: ...... .- '-" ~eSDec'C are supposea =0 Drov~ae ?ublic codies and ~inist:.ers :nu s c ce =cmce ..:._.::'::::. _3.W i ana :'. 8 essential CCla t: ehe oureauc r acv sncu_= Ce Counsel eo~ many foreign aueBorit:~es which be cou~d nQrcoulci ffJey be found · in Saint Lucia to support his argiIiI t he words .... 11 was rnandat.ory and word may permis8ib~e . .f,- He quoted 1t1l1.;liustralian case of JtJftnS,oll 'ryBe Foundry va Maffra 19:49 Page 89 at Page 107 which states that: "May unlike Shall i s not mandatory but a permissive word , although i t may acquire a mandatory meaning from the context in whicn it is used just like shall which is a mandatory word, may be depld:ved of i ts obligatory force and bec0me permissive in context. He quoted a few cases in which the word 'may' was held to be obligatory. He argued that there were 563 instances in which the word shal.l. was mentioned in the constitution and 152 instances where the --word may was mentioned and therefore should not be regarded as synonymous with each other. He quoted the following cases: London Clydeside Estetes Ltd vs Aberdeen District CouncilL and another 1980 1 WLR Page 182. Coney v Hoyle 1975 1 WLR Page 422. Learned Counsel vociferously and strenuously argued that "the l aying of the Estimates is an important procedural mechanism which should not be contravened at any COSt since i t falls within the parameters of certain nation's concern whi ch are as follows: (1) To protect the Societ y; (2) To intorm the public as to tro.ir y" ~ ,....~ts and freedoms; (3) To regulate the process of Government ; To establish parameters wi thin which Government processes can be executed and how; t!t) To- establi sh ~he conditions under which good and order can be achieved mot;'e particurarl --.:.(,: relation to the f inan ces or the: State'. ~ .• ).. t:optovide det inite unambiguous and strict guideline s ~or the proper management o f a country ' s finan c ial resources which i nc l udes the fi nanc i a l input o f eve ry Tax pa;yer ~ 1l He said that i t was an abs olute and positive juty placed on the Government t hrough the Minister o f Financ e t o ,"'hich he had: to adhere . He concluded his argument s on t he con t rav e n t ion of Se c t i on 79 (1 ) o f t he Constitution in t hos e words : "In this regard t he Appl icant is not i nconve n i enc ed nor suffers a ny inj ustice but neverthe less has substantial and pert u~~i ~g ~onc ~ Yns as r egard a seeming v lol a tlon oi Constitutional pr0vi s ions by public offi c e rs wi th i mpunity and con junction t herewith the Applic ant wonde rs where this country and i t s finances are go ing and where t he fi nances which incl udes t ax paye r s contributions a r e head i ng t o and to what extent phys i cal accountability i s being realised or disregarded as sal ubri ous. " Counse l 's argume nts on t he contravent ion o f Se ccions 110 (l) and 118 (1 ) of the Cons t itution o f Sa int Luc i a wer e br i e f i n comparison wi th that under Sect ion 79 (1 ) o f the s a id Constitut i on . He quoted Sect i on 1 1 8 of t he Const l ( 11t", ". r:>r' ",h 1. c:h reads as f ollows: (1 ) "There s ha ll be a n I ntegricy Commi ss i on for Saint Lucia (hereaf t e r in this sec tion referred t o a s t he Commission ) which shall con s ist o f a cha irma n and not l ess t hat t wo nor more than f our other members, who s ha l l be appointed by ttbe Governor-General, acting in accordance advic.e of the Prime Minister. II He said t hat ... the Secti on has been viol ated by the- Gove.rnment :.£ Saint L-ac:i.a. aIKi, its f uncti onaries and t hey should no t be alloWed t.a do so. He r eferred to the case o f Sheffield City Council vs Grangersi Wi:nes Ltd 1979 1 WLR Page 1119 and quoted Scarman L. J. at Page 1~2-5. "It is quite c lear that when Pa r liament indicat es a manner and time in which a subordinate authority may exercise a power of imposing a monet a r y burden upon t he c i t i zen Parliament will expect and intend that the condition s for the exer cise o f t hat power be s trict ly complied with . " Learned Counse l s a id that paragr aph 4 o f the Honourable At torney S e n ~ ~a l ' s AEfid&vit in repl y w~= ~2~ ~ ~fying. Paragraph 4 read s : " I am advise d further by Counsel for the Respondents and verily be lie ve that beca use the va r i ables as a foresai d i t i s not always poss ible to comply strictly with the letter of t he Consti t u t .ion i n thi s regard. 1\ He s a id t hat the Throne Speech alluded to the appointment of a Parl iamentary Commi s sione r and an I ntegr ity Commiss i on bu t to date no appointments ha ve been made . The Appl i c ant, lllUma s Walcott wa s Cross - examined by the 80) 1.r: j .t n r Cot.t I\) ~1- General Consul for the ResDondent. -- . , The Applicant said that t he island of Saint Luc i a has be e n without an Int egri t y Commission f or about 12 - 13 years and a Parliamentary Commissioner for about 2 - 3 years . l8 The SOl OJ: Qmeral. caaaenc:ed court that since the last adjournment a Parliamentary and <=n Integri t:y Commission have been appointed and present copies of .tlIe Sa,int Lucia. Gazette Vol. 16.4 No. 47 daJted r 1995 wm~ shows, that Miss Laurence Laurent. has been appointed as Parl iamentary Commissioner and Vol . 164 No . 48 which s tates that f our persons had been chosen to serve on the Integrity Commiss~on . He urged the Court to bear in mind the equitable maxim that the Court does not act in va in. He then quoted from de Smith's Judicial Review of Administrative Action 4th Edition Pages 508 and 509 which r eads: "An i ssue that could have been made the subject of an action for a declaration ma y cease to be justiciable be c a use the situat ion on which a claim might have been founded no l onger exists. The Courts will concern themsel ves onl y with living i ssue ." and Halsbury's Laws Vol 1 (1) paragraph 108 4th Edition. He also quoted C. o. Williams Ltd vs Donald George Blackman and another 1 W L R Page 102 at . Page 109 letter E. The Learned Solicitor General argued that: the word \ shall' in Section 79 (1) of the Constitution should oe construed along the l ines a s stated by Jackson J in Inland Revenue Conunissioner and the Attorney-General vs Lilleyman and others 1964 7 WLR Page 496 at Page 506 Letter I . "It is t r ue that a Ccnstitut ion must :lot oe construed in any narrow or pedantic sense. The words used a re necessarily general , and their ful l i mport and true me aning can often only be appreciated when cons idered a s che years go on, in r e l ation to the vicissicudes o f fact ~h ich from time to time emerge-. It is not: that the meani.ngol; the, woms changes, but :' :~'« <'::." '. .' : d{r:" · t!h~ changing circumstances illustltate' and illuminate the full; import Q·f that meaning. It has been said that 'in interpreting a constituent or organic statute such as the Act (i. e. the· British North America Act ) I t hat construction most. beneficial to che widest possible amplitude o f its powers must be adopted. ' " Learned Counsel argued that the affidavit of Marina Henry-Yarde should be considered along t he l ines o f che abovement ioned. He said that Section 5 o f che Finance Act 1 988 ga ve t he Minister of Finance authority t o ~ ss u e money bef ore t he passl ng o f the Appropriation Law - Es t i mates o f Expenditure ) Section 5 of the Finance Act reads as fol lows:- If It shall be l awful to i ssue from t he public funds o f the State l in pursuanc e o f warrants under t he hand o f t he MlnlSter such s u~ s a s may be ~ ~ ~~~sary ~ o r c a rrying on t he Government of the State, during any period not exceeding four months between the e nd o f the financial year and the coming i nto force o f the l aw auchoris ing t he appropriation f or t he next financial year." He noted that i t was not without significance chat Section 80 of the Constitution quot ed e a rlier a t page ; 14 and Sect ion 5 o f the Finan ce Act are dra f ted in a lmost identic a l language and must be read together. He argued that this being so che 30vernment o f Saint Lucia was r-h<,,\re rore empowen~Q oy chese t wo Secc ions :::'0 =-ay che Estimates of Expenditure before Par liame nt anytime before the thirty f i r st 31st day o f July 1995 and t herefore had one monch and sixteen days to spare. Learned Counse l said tnac , ~ order co decide whecner ~he word shall is mandatory ,or dir~tory the recent decisioD VI. The . •• 0 • . ; . . G4!mera·J;· fo~ Saf.n,t Vincent and the, Grenadines and (2) The S~ ," of Silee~~"¢.9mDOnd V. Robertson) Ci.vil Appeal No. :1.4 oE should. be cClIlsidered carefully. I n that case the Appellants were seeking that ~he elections heikd on the 21st February 1994 was a contravention o f tne Constitution and therefore null and void since there had not been any appointment of the Constituency Boundaries Commission and review of the boundaries of the Constituencies. The Appellants contended that the word shall in Section 33 of the St. Vincent Constitution was to be held as being mandatory and that failure to comply therewith i nvalidated the general elections. Sir Vincent Floissac at Page 6 of the J udgment had this to say. "The question theref ore arises as to whether it is concordant with judicial practice o r principle co construe a constitutional o.c ::;t.dC1..l.Lory provision as b e ~~::5 -:-;~;. _·_d2t:C'r/ in circumstances where (I ) the provision prescribes the formalities to be observed before or during the performance o f an act in the execution of a publ ic duty (2 ) the act was performed without those formalities o r i n violation of the provision (3 ) the nullification of the act would result in serious general public inconvenience and in injustice to persons who had no control over those entrusted with the public duty and (4) the nullification o f the act would not promote the main ob ject o f the provision. " That question was answered by the Pri vy C8uncil in Montreal Street Railway Company v Normandin \1917) A.C. 170. l'here I Sir Arthur Channel (delivering the judgment of the Board said at p. 176) "When the provisions 8 f a s catue relace co :. he 0erformance of a public duty and t he case is such thac to hold null and void acts done l TI neglect of this duty would work serious general i:ac:oJweI:Lience, or injuStice to persons who nave 0Ift!r 'ehos& entr1ls,ted with the duty, arul at the wouldi Dot pron:t0te the main object of the Legislature, it bas lb:een tQe practice to Iiold: such provia,ions to be directo onl\y;"t:.he neglect of them t though punishable, not affecting the validity of the acts done. This principle has beea applied to provisions for holding sessions at particular times and places (2 Hale, P. C., P 50 , Rex v Leicester Justices, and Parke 3 . in Gwynne v Burnell ) to provisions as to rates (Reg. v Inhabitants o f Fordham and Le Feuvre v Miller ) i to provisions of the Ballot Act (Woodward v Sarsons and Phillips v Goff ) i and to justices acting without having taken the prescribed oath, whose acts are not he ld invalid (Margate Pier Co. v Hannam) . In the case now before the Board it would cause the greatest public inconvenience if it were held that neglect to observe the provisions o f t he statute made the verdicts of all j uries taken from the list i;:,...;-.../ ':::-..-": i...': -,.11 ::2::: void, so that no j ury trials could be held until a duly revised list had been prepared. II The Montreal Street Railway Case was concerned with Statutory provisions. But I discern no good reason why the j udicial practice or principle expounded in that case should not be equally applicable to a constitutional provision." Learned Counsel said that the Affidavit of J acinta St. Helene noted earlier on pages 7 -8 and in parti cular paragraph 4 (a ) (b ) and (c ) states the reasons for :.he lat e laying o f t.he Estimates (e. g. r ehabilitation after Tropical Storm Debbie, on-going negotiations with Unions, Industrial action by certain public officers ) . He argued strenuously and persuasively t hat t.he principle as e xpounded by Sir. Vincent Floissac in the St. Vincent and the GrenadineS~"±VH noted above Civil Appeal No. 14 of 1994 s hould be applied. He said chat the nullifi cation o f the l aying of t he Estimates would resu l t in general public i nconvenience. Baaed above be argued tthat: ,the word ... ·11 in Q£ the S'aint Lucia Constitution 1,978 snould be construed directorf'. He conC"]tldfed~' h:tSl arguments by quoting Conay v CBoyce and? ot:aera 1975 1 WLR P'age 422. Learned Counsel for the Appl icant replied concending that even if the Parliamentary Commissioner and the Integrity Commi ssion have been appointed and that the Courts do not act in vain; these do not degrogate from the f act that there has been a violat i on of t he law o f the land and continue to be violation of the l aw and that it was i ncumbent on this Court in its supervisory and j udicial capacity to s end a clear and strong message to those who dare violate or intend t o violate the Const i tution o f this country," He argued most v ehement ~y that the violation of the Constitution i n 1 995 could never be a dead i ss ui:::. 2lIlQ t:~c.~: _:~c.L' e must be redress for such a violation. He concluded by reiterating that t he Laying of t he Estimates in June 1995 was in contravention o f Sect ion 79 (l) o f the Consti tution which states thac the "Minister f o r the time being responsible fo r Finance shall cause to be prepared and l aid before the House before I or not later than 30 days a fter. the commencement of each financial year estimates o f the revenues and expenditure of Saint Lucia for that financ ial year. " He said t hat Section 5 or ~he Finance Act doe s ~o t degrogate from t he provisions o f Section 79 (1) of the Conscitut i on . He said that the Section was contravened and therefore the l aying of the ~ Gtimates of Expenditure for the year 1995 / 1996 was TIU:: ~~d ~oid. CONCLUSION the Saint I..,ucia Gazet te Vol 0Iumber Parl iamentary Commissioner in the !=lerson o f Miss I..,aurence I..,aurent has been appointed; and by Number 48 an Integri ty Commission has also been appoint.ed uawri ng Mr .~ George Theophilus, · Chairman,Mr . "Natbaltllert Husbands, Mrs. Muriel. .Gil], Jr. p~ ,Pastor Cornelius; Robinson, a i t s members ~ Therefore the declaration and order sought viz (1) A Declaxation t hat the Respondents contravened Sections 1 EO:- (1) and 118 (1 ) o f the Conscitution o f Sa int Lucia by failing to appoint and to establish a Parliamer.tary Commissioner and an :ntegrity Commission respectively. (2) l~ Order that the Governor General be ordered to conform to the said provisions of the said Consti tution and to bring i nto existence within 60 days the Parliamentar y Commissioner and the Integrity Commis s ion. l S in my opinion a dead issue . I now turn to consider the other declarations sought which to me r evolves upon whether the word shall in Section 79 (1 ) of the Ccnst i tutiC''''' ; '" 1::) he ("'o'J.strued as being mandatory, the :len compl i ance with, would cause the l aying of the Estimates for the year 19 95 /1 996 on the 8t h o f June 1995 to be a nullity. I have had copi ous citat ion of aut hority (a f ew of which I have not ed ) on the probl em whether statutory provisions are to be considered as mandatory or directory . While it i s true, that provisions of statutes and i n particular the Constitu tion a re s uppose to p r ovide s afeguards for the subjects of a land i. e. the pe ople of Saint Lucia, it is to be noted that the granting of relief by a Court when dealing with declarations is discretionary and the judge has many considerations to evaluate and analyse before arriving a t a conclusion, one such consideration is, what effect the granting of i...~- '---- - - '-' • the relief will have on the general r'I,.}--l ~ - In this regard I note what Templeman J had co say ::..n Coney v Choyce (CHD ) 1974 1 WLR Page 422 at Page 433 where :1e quotes from de Smith's Judicial Review of Administrative Action 3rd Edition (1973) Page 122 and now (142 in the 4th Edition) . ·1I1IIhen. Parli:amentprescrtbes the manner or_ form in .(~ is· t;-;; beperfoDlled or a; power' exercised, it seldom lays dbwn what w'ill be the legal consequences of f ailure to obseTVe its prescriptions. The courts must therefore formulate their crit.eria for determining whether the procedural rules are' to be regarded as mandatory, in which case di sobedience will render void or voidable what has been done, o r as directoryt in which case disobedie~ce will be treated as an irregularity not affect ing the validity o f what has been done (though in some cases it has been said that there must be "substantial compliance" with the statutory provisions if the deviation is to be excused as a mere irregularity ) . Judges have often stressed the impracticability of specifying exact r u l es for the assignment of a procedural provision to the appropriate category. The whole scope and purpose of the enactment must be considered, and one must assess "the importanc e of the provision that has been disregarded , and t he relation of that lJroviaion to the gent·:::.::. ~:':"~eC't ; nt0":1ded to be secured by the Act." Furthermore, much may depend upon the particular circumstances of the case in hand. Although "nullification lS the natural and usual consequence o f d i sobedience," breach of procedural or formal rules i s likely to be treated as a mere irregularity if the departure from the t erms of t he Act is of a trivial nature, or if no substantial prejudice has been suffered by those for whose benefit the requirements were introduced , or if serious public inconvenlence would be caused by holding them to be mandatory, o r if the court is for any reason disinclined to interfere with the act o r decision that is impugned . " I accept the test (noted above ) . That t est was recent ly applied in St Vincent and the Grenadines in Civil Appeal No. 14 of 1994 (Randolph Russel et al vs Attorney General et ale .u..t ?age 6 of t hat Judgment Sir Vincent Floissac Chief Justice a sked the question "whether it is concordant with judicial practi c e ~Jr principle to construe 'a CbDati.tut :ton al or S .t,atutory provisi.on as being i~. i DcirC1lDlStances where (~1< the provision prescribes the formalities to be observed. b:.e:fbre or during t he . performance of an act · in e~cut:ion of a publ i c duty; (2) the act was performed without those f o rmal it i es or in violation of the provision; (3) the null i f ication of the act woul-:l result i n serious; general pub lic inconveni ence and ~ injust ice t o persons who had no cont rol over t hose entrus ted with t he public duty and; (4) the nullification of the act would not promote t Iiet main object o f the prov i sion. Sir Vincent Floissac: dflswered the ~l lest ion by '1;":"0r;:';.t." J.Y ~he ('.:lse of Montreal Street Rai l way Company v Normandin 1917 A. C. 170,. He s aid "I discern no good reason why t he judic ial practice or principle expounded in tha t case should not be equa lly appl icabl e t o a Constitut i onal pr ovi s ion." I respectfully adopt t hi s diction o f Sir. Vinc ent Floissac, Chief J ustice. I n my j udgment Sect ion 79 (1) and Sect ion 80 o f the St. Lucia Constitution 1978 a r e to be read in con junct ion with each other. I am i ndeed at a los s to unders t and wha~ ot he r inter pretat ion could be given to Section 80 of t he s a id Con st i t u ~i on . I t is my view that the exp l anation given by J aClnta St. Helene i n paragraph 4 of her af f idavit on pages seve n and eight is exactly one of t he situations envisaged by the f r amers o f the Const i tution hence t he provlsion empowering the Governme nt through it s Minister "'Until the expiration 0 .. of that firi'ancial" year or the from operation of t.he ': ~aw wtld.-cbs'We:r is the eal!'l:ier. If Baaed-.ei!)jy;,the · above ,I ' fi-nd that tire word __ 11 in Section 79 (1) of the St. Lucia Constitution 1978 is to be construed a·s :" heing: directory and not mandatory. I n the result, I dismiss the two motions. There will be no order as to costs. SUZIE D'AUVERGNE ?UIS":'~~~E

Suit 'NO 629 of 1995 D’Auvergne, ;.J Delivered: 24/01/96