Qualifications and disqualifications for nomination
Sections 31 & 32 of the Saint Lucia Constitution Order 1978 highlights the qualifications and disqualifications for election to Parliament and should be read in conjunction with the Elections Act Cap.1.02
Qualifications
The qualifications for nomination for prospective candidates seeking to be elected to the House of Assembly must be that the person:-
• is a citizen of Saint Lucia;
• is not under twenty-one years of age;
• was born –
(i) in Saint Lucia and he is a domiciled and resident there at the date of his nomination for election; or
(ii) outside Saint Lucia but has resided in Saint Lucia for a period of twelve months immediately preceding the date of his or her nomination for election;
• is able to speak and read the English Language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to enable him or her to take an active part in the proceedings of the House of Assembly;
• is not by virtue of his or her own act under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state;
• is not a minister of religion;
• is not an undischarged bankrupt having been adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt under any law in force in any part of the Commonwealth;
• is not a person certified to be insane or otherwise adjudged to be of unsound mind under any law in force in Saint Lucia;
• is not under sentence of death imposed on him or her by a court in any part of the Commonwealth or is serving a sentence of imprisonment (by whatever name called) exceeding 12 months imposed upon him or her by such a court or substituted competent authority for some other sentence of imprisonment the execution of which has been suspended
• is not disqualified for membership of the House of Assembly by any law enacted by the Parliament of Saint Lucia by reason of his or her having any such interest in any such Government contract as may be prescribed by law;
• is not disqualified for membership of the House of Assembly by virtue of any law enacted by the Parliament of Saint Lucia relating to offences connected with elections;
• does not hold, nor is he or she acting in any public office;
• is not disqualified for election by any law enacted by the Parliament of Saint Lucia by reason of his or her holding or acting in any office the functions of which involve responsibility for, or in connection with, the conduct of any election; or for the compilation or revision of any electoral register.
Disqualification
A person shall not be qualified to be elected as a member of the house if he or she-
• is by virtue of his or her own act under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state;
• is a minister of religion;
• is an undischarged bankrupt having been adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt under any law in force in any part of the Commonwealth;
• a person certified to be insane or otherwise adjudged to be of unsound mind under any law in force in Saint Lucia;
• is under sentence of death imposed on him or her by a court in any part of the Commonwealth or is serving a sentence of imprisonment (by whatever name called) exceeding 12 months imposed upon him or her by such a court or substituted competent authority for some other sentence of imprisonment the execution of which has been suspended;
• is disqualified for membership of the House of Assembly by any law enacted by the Parliament of Saint Lucia by reason of his or her having any such interest in any such Government contract as may be prescribed by law;
• If it is so provided by Parliament, a person shall not be qualified to be elected as a member if he holds or is acting in any office that is specified by Parliament and the functions of which involve responsibility for, or in connection with, the conduct of any election of members or the compilation of any register of voters for the purpose of electing members.
• If it is so provided by parliament, a person who is convicted by any court of law of any offence that is prescribed by Parliament and that is connected with the election of members or who is reported guilty of such an offence by the court trying an election petition shall not be qualified, for such period (not exceeding seven years) following his conviction or, as the case may be, following the report of the court as may be so prescribed, to be elected as a member.
Further information on the nomination process, please visit the downloads section and view the candidates handbook