54. – Sessions

(1) Each session of Parliament shall be held at such place within Saint Lucia and shall being at such time, not being later than twelve months from the end of the preceding session if Parliament has been prorogued or one month from the holding of a general election of members of the House if parliament has been dissolved, as the Governor-General shall appoint by Proclamation.

(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the sitting of the Senate or the House shall be held at such time and place as it may, by its rules of procedure or otherwise, determine.

55. – Prorogation and dissolution

(1) The Governor-General may at any time prorogue or dissolve Parliament.

(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section parliament, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date of the first sitting of the House after any dissolution and shall then stand dissolved.

(3) At any time when Saint Lucia is at war, parliament may extend the period of five years specified in subsection (2) of this section for not more than twelve months at a time:

Provided that the life of Parliament shall not be extended under this subsection for more than five years.

(4) In the exercise of this powers to dissolve Parliament, the Governor-General shall act in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister:

Provided that-

a) if the Prime Minister advises a dissolution and the Governor-General, acting in his own deliberate judgment, considers that the government of Saint Lucia can be carried on without a dissolution and that a dissolution would not be in the interests of Saint Lucia, he may, acting in his own deliberate judgment, refuse to dissolve Parliament;

b) if a resolution of no confidence in the Government is passed by the House and the Prime Minister does not within three days either resign or advise a dissolution the Governor-General , acting in his own deliberate judgment, may dissolve Parliament; and

c) if the office of the Prime Minister is vacant and the Governor-General, acting in his own deliberate judgment, considers that there is no prospect of his being able within a reasonable time to make an appointment to that office the Governor-General shall dissolve Parliament.

(5) If, after a dissolution of Parliament and before the holding of a general election of members of the House, the Prime Minister advises the Governor-General that, owing to the existence of a state of war or of a state of emergency in Saint Lucia, it is necessary to recall Parliament, the Governor-General shall summon the Parliament that has been dissolved to meet, but unless the life of parliament is extended under the provisions of subsection (3) of his section, the general election shall proceed and the parliament that has been recalled shall, if not sooner dissolved, again stand dissolves on the date appointed for the nomination of candidate in the general election.

56. – Holding of elections

(1) A general election of members of the House shall be held at such time within three months after any dissolution of Parliament as the Governor-General may appoint.

(2) Where the seat of a member of the House or a Senator falls vacant otherwise than by reason of a dissolution of Parliament-

a) if the vacant seat is that of a member of the House, a by-election shall be held; or

b) if the vacant seat is that of a Senator an appointment shall be made.

to fill the vacancy within three months of the occurrence of the vacancy unless Parliament is sooner dissolved.