| SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Joined United Nations: 16 September 1980 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Updated 06 September 2012 |
CHAPTER 1
PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
Fundamental rights and freedoms
1. Where every person in Saint Vincent is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms, that is to say, the right, whatever his race,
place of origin, political opinions, color, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public
interest, to each and all of the following, namely-
a. life, liberty, security of the person and the protection of the law;
b. freedom of conscience, of expressions and of assembly and association: and
c. protection for the privacy of his home and other property and from deprivation of property without compensation,
the provisions of this Chapter shall have effect for the purpose of affording protection to those rights and freedoms subject to such
limitations of that protection as are contained in those provisions, being limitations designed to ensure that the enjoyment of the said
rights and freedoms by any person does not prejudice the rights and freedoms of other or the public interest.
Protection of right to life.
2. (1) No person shall be deprived of his life intentionally save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence
under any law of which he has been convicted.
(2) A person shall not be regarded as having been deprived of his life in contravention of this section if he dies as the result of the use,
to such extent and in such circumstances as are permitted by law, of such force as is reasonably justifiable-
a. for the defence of any person from violence or for the defence of property;
b. in order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained;
c. for the purpose of suppressing a riot, insurrection or mutiny; or
d. in order to prevent the commission by that person of a criminal offence,
or if he dies as the result of a lawful act of war.
Protection of right to personal liberty.
3. (1) No person shall be deprived of his personal liberty save as may be authorized by law in any of the following cases, that is to say:-
a. in execution of the sentence or order of a court, whether established for Saint Vincent or some other country, in respect of a
criminal offence of which he has been convicted;
b. in execution of the order of the High Court or the Court of Appeal punishing him for contempt of that court or of another court or
tribunal;
c. in execution of the order of a court made to secure the fulfillment of any obligation imposed on him by law,
d. for the purpose of bringing him before a court in execution of the order of a court;
e. upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed, or being about to commit, a criminal offence under any law.
f. under the order of a court or with the consent of his parent or guardian, for his education or welfare during any period ending not
later than the date when he attains the age of eighteen years;
g. for the purpose of preventing the spread of an infectious or contagious disease;
h. in the case of a person who is, or is reasonably suspected to be of unsound mind, addicted to drugs or alcohol, or vagrant, for the
purpose of his care or treatment of the protection of the community;
i. for the purpose of preventing the unlawful entry of that person into Saint Vincent, or for the purpose of effecting the expulsion,
extradition or other lawful removal of that person from Saint Vincent or for the purpose of restricting that person while he is being
conveyed through Saint Vincent in the course of his extradition or removal as a convicted prisoner from one country to another; or
j. to such extent as may be necessary in the execution of a lawful order requiring that person to remain within a specified area within
Saint Vincent, or prohibiting him from being within such an area, or to such extent as may be reasonably justifiable for the taking of
proceedings against that person with a view to the making of any such order or relating to such an order after it has been made, or to
such extent as may be reasonably justifiable for restraining that person during any visit that he is permitted to make to any part of Saint
Vincent in which, in consequence of any such order, his presence would otherwise be unlawful.
(2) Any person who is arrested or detained shall with reasonable promptitude and in any case no later than twenty-four hours after
such arrest or detention be informed in a language that he understands of the reasons for his arrest of detention and be afforded
reasonable facilities for private communication and consultation with a legal practitioner of his own choice and, in the case of a minor,
with his parents or guardian.
(3) Any person who is arrested or detained-
a. for the purpose of bringing him before a court in execution of the order of a court; or
b. upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed, or being about to commit, a criminal offence under any law.
and who is not released, shall be brought without undue delay before a court.
(4) Where any person is brought before a court in execution of the order of a court in any proceedings or upon suspicion of his having
committed or being about to commit an offence, he shall not be thereafter further held in custody in connection with those
proceedings or that offence save upon the order of a court.
(5) If any person arrested or detained as mentioned in subsection (3)b. of this section is not tried within a reasonable time, without
prejudice to any further proceedings that may be brought against him, he shall be released either unconditionally or upon reasonable
conditions, including in particular such conditions as are reasonably necessary to ensure that he appears at a later date for trial or for
proceedings preliminary to trial.
(6) Any person who is unlawfully arrested or detained by any other person shall be entitled to compensation therefore from that other
person or from any other person or authority on whose behalf that other person was acting;
Provided that a judge, a magistrate or a justice of the peace or an officer of a court or a police officer acting in pursuance of the order
of a judge, a magistrate or a justice of the peace shall not be under any personal liability to pay compensation under this subsection in
consequence of any act performed by him in good faith in the discharge of the functions of his office and any liability to pay any such
compensation in consequence of any such act shall be a liability of the Crown.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a) of this section a person charged before a court with a criminal offence in respect of whom a
special verdict has been returned that he was guilty of the act or omission charged but was insane when he did the act or made the
omission or that he is not guilty by reason of insanity shall be regarded as a person who has been convicted of a criminal offence and
the detention of that person in consequence of such a verdict shall be regarded as detention in execution of the order of a court.
Protection from slavery and forced labor.
4. (1) No person shall be held in slavery or servitude.
(2) No person shall be required to perform forced labor.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the expression "forced labor" does not include_
a. any labor required in consequence of the sentence or order or a court;
b. labor required of any person while he is lawfully detained that, though not required in consequence of the sentence or order of a
court, is reasonably necessary in the interests of hygiene or for the maintenance of the place at which he is detained;
c. any labor required of a member of a disciplined force in pursuance of his duties as such or, in the case of a person who has
conscientious objections to service as a member of a naval, military or air force, any labor that person is required by law to perform in
place of such service;
d. any labor required during any period of public emergency or in the event of any other emergency or calamity that threatens the life
and well-being of the community, to the extent that the requiring of such labor is reasonably justifiable in the circumstances of any
situation arising or existing during that period or as a result of that other emergency or calamity, for the purpose of dealing with that
situation.
Protection from inhuman treatment
5. No person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading punishment or other treatment.
Protection from deprivation or property
6. (1) No property of any description shall be compulsorily taken possession of, and no interest in or right over property of any
description shall be compulsorily acquired, except for a public purpose and except where provision is made by a law applicable to that
taking of possession or acquisition for the payment, within a reasonable time, of adequate compensation.
(2) Every person having an interest in or right over property that is compulsorily taken possession of or whose interest in or right over
any property is compulsorily acquired shall have a right of direct access to the High Court for-
a. determining the nature and extent of that interest or right;
b. determining whether that taking of possession or acquisition was duly carried out in accordance with a law authorizing the taking of
possession or acquisition;
c. determining what compensation he is entitled to under the law applicable to that taking of possession or acquisition;
d. obtaining that compensation:
Provided that if Parliament so provides in relation to any matter referred to in paragraph (a) or (c) of this subsection the right of
access shall be by way of appeal (exercisable as of right at the instance of the person having the interest in or right over the property)
from a tribunal or authority, other than the High Court, having jurisdiction under any law to determine that matter.
(3) The Chief Justice may make rules with respect to the practice and procedure of the High Court or, subject to such provision as
may have been made in that behalf by Parliament, with respect to the practice and procedure of any other tribunal or authority in
relation to the jurisdiction conferred on the High Court by subsection (2) of this section or exercisable by the other tribunal or authority
for the purposes of that subsection (including rules with respect to the time within which applications or appeals to the High Court or
applications to the other tribunal or authority may be brought).
(4) No person who is entitled to compensation under this section shall be prevented from remitting, within a reasonable time after he
has received any amount of that compensation in the form of a sum of money or, as the case may be, has received any such amount
in some other form and has converted any or that amount into a sum of money, the whole of that sum of money(free from any
deduction; charge or tax made of levied in respect of its remission) to any country of his choice outside Saint Vincent.
(5) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subsection
(4) of this section to the extent that the law in question authorizes-
a. the attachment, by order of a court, of any amount of compensation to which a person is entitled in satisfaction of the judgment of
a court or pending the determination of civil proceedings to which he is a party;
b. the imposition of reasonable restrictions on the manner in which any sum of money is to be remitted; or
c. the imposition of reasonable restrictions in the remission of nay sum of money in order to prevent or regulate the transfer to a
country outside Saint Vincent of capital raised in Saint Vincent, or in some other country or derived from the natural resources of
Saint Vincent.
(6) nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subsection
(1) of this section-
a. to the extent that the law in question makes provision for the taking of possession or acquisition of any property, interest or right-
i) in satisfaction of any tax, rate or due;
ii) by way of penalty for breach of any law or forfeiture in consequence of breach of any law;
iii) as an incident of a lease, tenancy, mortgage,charge, bill of sale, pledge or contract;
iv) in the execution of judgments or orders of a court in proceedings for the determinations of civil rights or obligations;
v) in circumstances where it is reasonably necessary so to do because the property is in a dangerous state or likely to be injurious to
the health of human beings, animal or plants;
vi) in consequence of any law with respect to the limitation of actions; or,
vii) for so long only as may be necessary for the purposes of any examination, investigation, trial or inquiry or, in the case of land, for
the purposes of the carrying out thereon of work of soil conservation or the contravention of other natural resources or work relating
to agricultural development or improvement (being work relating to such development or improvement that the owner or occupier of
the land has been required, and has without reasonable excuse refused or failed, to carry out),
and except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably
justifiable in a democratic society; or
b. to the extent that the law in question makes provision for the taking of possession or acquisition of any or the following property
(including an interest in or right over property), that is to say-
i) enemy property;
ii) property of a deceased person,a person of unsound mind or a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years, for the
purpose of its administration for the benefit of the persons entitled to the beneficial interest therein;
iii) property of a person adjudged bankrupt or a body corporate in liquidation, for the purpose of its administration for the benefit of
the creditors of the bankrupt or body corporate and, subject thereto, for the benefit of other persons entitled to the beneficial interest in
the property; or
iv) property subject to a trust, for the purpose of vesting the property in persons appointed as trustees under the instrument creating
the trust or by a court or, by order of a court, for the purpose of giving effect to the trust.
(7) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law enacted by Parliament shall be held to be inconsistent with or in
contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision for the compulsory taking of possession of any
property, or the compulsory acquisition of any interest in or right over property, where that property, interest or right is held by a
body corporate established by law for public purposes in which no monies have been invested other than monies provides by
Parliament.
(8) In this section-
"property" means any land or other thing capable of being owned or held in possession and includes any right relating thereto, whether
under a contract, trust or law or otherwise and whether present or future, absolute or conditional;
"acquisition" in relation to an interest in or right over property, means transferring that interest or right to another person or
extinguishing or curtailing that interest or right.
Protection from arbitrary search or entry
7. (1) Except with his own consent, a person shall not be subjected to the search of his person or his property or the entry by others
on his premises.
(2) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section
to the extent that the law in question makes provision-
a. that is reasonably requires in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, town and country
planning,the development and utilization of mineral resources or the development or utilization of any property for a purpose beneficial
to the community;
b. that is reasonably required for the purpose of protecting the rights or freedoms of other persons;
c. that authorizes an officer or agent of the Government, a local government authority or a body corporate established by law for
public purposes to enter on the premises of any person in order to inspect those premises or anything thereon for the purpose of any
tax, rate or due or in order to carry out work connected with any property that is lawfully on those premises and that belongs to the
Government or to that authority or body corporate, as the case may be; or
d. that authorizes, for the purpose of enforcing the judgment or order of a court i any civil proceedings, the search or any person or
property by order of a court or entry upon any premises by such order,
and except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, anything done under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably
justifiable in a democratic society.
Provisions to secure protection of law
8. (1) If any person is charged with a criminal offence, then, unless the charge is withdrawn, the case shall be afforded a fair hearing
within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial court established by law.
(2) Every person who is charged with a criminal offence-
a. shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved or has pleaded guilty;
b. shall be informed as soon as reasonably practicable, in a language that he understands and in detail, of the nature of the offence
charged;
c. shall be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence;
d. shall be permitted to defend himself before the court in person or, at his own expense, by a legal practitioner of his own choice;
e. shall be afforded facilities to examine in person or by his legal representative the witnesses called by the prosecution before the
court, and to obtain the attendance and carry out the examination of witnesses to testify on his behalf before the court on the same
conditions as those applying to witnesses called by the prosecution; and
f. shall be permitted to have without payment the assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand the language used at the trial.
and except with his own consent the trial shall not take place in his absence unless he so conducts himself as to tender the continuance
of the proceedings in his presence impracticable and the court has ordered him to be removed and the trial to proceed in his absence;
Provided that the trial may take place in his absence in any case in which or is so provided by a law under which he is entitled to
adequate notice of the charge and the date, time and place of the trial and to a reasonable opportunity of appearing before the court.
(3) When a person is tried for any criminal offence, the accused person or any person authorized by him in that behalf shall, if he so
requires and subject to payment of such reasonable fee as may be prescribed by law, be given within a reasonable time after judgment
a coup for the use of the accused person of any record of the proceedings made by or on behalf of the court.
(4) A person shall not be held to be guilty of a criminal offence on account of any act or omission that did not, at the time it took
place, constitute such an offence, and no penalty shall be imposed for any criminal offence that is severer in severer in degree or
description than the maximum penalty that might have been imposed for that offence at the time when is was committed.
(5) A person who shows that he has been tried by a competent court for a criminal offence and either convicted of acquitted shall not
again be tried for that offence of which he could have been convicted at the trial for that offence, save upon the order of a superior
court in the course of appeal or review proceedings relating to the conviction or acquittal.
(6) A person shall not be tried for a criminal offence if he shows that he has been pardoned for that offence.
(7) A person who is tried for a criminal offence shall not be compelled to give evidence at the trial;
provided that nothing in this subsection shall prevent the prosecution or the court from commenting on his failure to give evidence on
his own behalf or prevent the court from drawing inferences from any such failure.
(8) Any court or other authority prescribed by law for the determination of the existence or extent of any civil right or obligation shall
be established by law and shall be independent and impartial; and where proceedings for such a determination are instituted by any
person before such a curt or other authority, the case shall be given a fair hearing within a reasonable time.
(9) Where the existence or extent of any civil right to obligation has been determined in proceedings in any court or before any other
authority any party to those proceedings shall, if he so requires as subject to payment of such reasonable fee as may be prescribed by
law, be entitled to obtain within a reasonable time after the judgment or other determination a copy of any record of the proceedings
made by or on behalf of the court or other authority.
(10) Except with the agreement of all the parties thereto,all proceedings of every court and proceedings for the determination of the
existence or extent of any civil right or obligation before any other authority, including the announcement of the decision of the court
or other authority, shall be held in public.
(11) Nothing is subsection (10) of this section shall prevent the court or other adjudicating authority from excluding from the
proceedings persons other than the parties thereto and the legal practitioners representing them to such extent as the court or other
authority-
a. may by law be empowered to do and may consider necessary or expedient in circumstances where publicity would prejudice the
interests of justice or interlocutory proceedings or in the interests of public morality,the welfare of persons under the age of eighteen
years or the protection of the private lives of persons concerned in the proceedings; or
b. may by law be empowered or required to do in the interests of defence, public safety or public order.
(12) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of-
a. subsection (2)(a.) of this section to the extent that the law in question imposes upon any person charged with a criminal offence the
burden of proving particular facts;
b. subsection (2)(e.) of this section to the extent that the law in question imposes reasonable conditions that must be satisfied if
witnesses called to testify on behalf of an accused person are to be paid their expenses out of public funds; or
c. subsection (5) of this sector to the extent that the law in question authorizes a court to try a member of a disciplined force for a
criminal offence notwithstanding any trial and conviction or acquittal of that member under the disciplinary law of that force, so
however, that any court so try in such a member and convicting him shall in sentencing him to any punishment take into account any
punishment awarded him under that disciplinary law.
(13) In the case of any person who is held in lawful detention the provisions of subsection(1) paragraph (d) and (e) of subsection (2)
and subsection (3) of this section shall not apply in relation to his trial for a criminal offence under the law regulating the discipline of
persons held in such detention.
(14) In this section "criminal offence" means a criminal offence under a law.
Protection of freedom of conscience
9. (1) Except with his own consent, a person shall not be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of conscience, including freedom
of thought and of religion, freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others, and both in
public and in private, to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
(2) Except with his own consent (or, if he is a person under the age of eighteen years, the consent of his guardian) a person attending
any place of education, detained in any prison or corrective institution or serving in a naval, military or air force shall not be required to
received religions instructions or to taken part in or attend any religious ceremony or observance if that instruction ceremony or
observance relates to a religion that is not his own.
(3) Every religious community shall be entitled, at its own expense, to establish and maintain places of education and to manage any
place of education which it maintains; as no such community shall be prevented from providing religious instruction for persons of
that community whether or not it is in receipt of a government subsidy or other form of financial assistance designed to meet in whole
or in part the cost of such course of education.
(4) A person shall not be compelled to take any oath which is contrary to his religion or belief or to take any oath in a manner that is
contrary to his religion or belief.
(5) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section
to the extent that the law in question makes provision which is reasonably required-
a. in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health;
b. for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedoms of other persons including the right to observe and practice any religion
without the unsolicited intervention or members of any other religion; or
c. for the purpose of regulating educational institutions in the interests of the persons who receive instruction in them,
and except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably
justifiable in a democratic society.
(6) References is this section to a religion shall be construed as including references to a religious denomination, and cognate
expressions shall be construed accordingly.
Protection freedom of expression
10. (1) Except with his own consent, a person shall not be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, including freedom
to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas
and information without interference (whether the communication be to the public generally or to any person or class of persons and
freedom from interference with his correspondence.
(2) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section
to the extent that the law in question makes provision-
a. that is reasonably required in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health;
b. that is reasonably required for the purpose of protecting the reputations, tights and freedoms of other persons or the private lives of
persons concerned in legal proceedings, preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, maintaining the authority and
independence of the courts or regulating the technical administration or the technical operation of telephony, telegraphy, posts,
wireless broadcasting or television; or
c. that imposes restrictions upon public officers that are reasonably required for the performance of their functions,
and except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the things done under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably
justifiable in a democratic society.
Protection of freedom of assembly and association
11. (1) Except with his own consent, a person shall not be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of assembly and association, that
is to say, his right to assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular to form or belong to trade unions or other
associations for the protection of his interests.
(2) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section
to the extent that the law in question makes provision-
a. that is reasonably required in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health;
b. that is reasonably required for the purpose of protecting the rights or freedoms of other persons; or
c. that imposes restrictions upon public officers that are reasonably required for the proper performance of their functions,
and except so far as that provisions or, as the case may be, the thing done under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably
justifiable in a democratic society.
Protection of freedom of movement.
12. (1) A person shall not be deprived of his freedom of movement that is to say, the right to more freely through Saint Vincent, the
right to reside in any part of Saint Vincent, the right to enter Saint Vincent, the right to leave Saint Vincent and immunity from
expulsion from Saint Vincent.
(2) Any restriction on a person's freedom of movement that is involved in his lawful detention shall not be held to be inconsistent with
or in contravention of this section.
(3) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section
to the extent that the law in question makes provision-
a. for the imposition of restrictions on the movement or residence within Saint Vincent of any person or on any person's right to leave
Saint Vincent that are reasonably required in the interests of defence, public safety or public order;
b. for the imposition of restrictions on the movement or residence within Saint Vincent or on the right to leave Saint Vincent of
persons generally or any class of persons in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health or, in
respect of the right to leave Saint Vincent, of securing compliance with any international obligation of the Government particulars of
which have been laid before the House and except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done under the authority
thereof is shown not to be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society;
c. for the imposition of restrictions, by order of a court, on the movement or residence within Saint Vincent of any person or on any
person's right to leave Saint Vincent either in consequence of his having been found guilty of a criminal offence under a law or for the
purpose of enduring that the appears before a court at a later date for trial of such a criminal offence or for proceedings preliminary to
trial or for proceedings relating to his extradition or lawful removal from Saint Vincent;
d. for the imposition of restrictions on the freedom of movement of any person who is not a citizen;
e. for the imposition of restrictions on the acquisition or use by any person of land or other property in Saint Vincent;
f. for the imposition of restrictions upon the movement or residence within Saint Vincent or on the right to leave Saint Vincent of any
public officer that are reasonably required for the proper performance of his functions;
g. for the removal of a person from Saint Vincent to be tried or punished in some other country for a criminal offence under the law
of that other country or to undergo imprisonment in some other country in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a
criminal offence under a law of which he has been convicted; or
h. for the imposition of restrictions on the right of any person to leave Saint Vincent that are reasonably required in order to secure the
fulfillment of any obligations imposed on that person by law and except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done
under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.
(4) If any person whose freedom of movement has been restricted by virtue of such a provision as is referred to in subsection (3)(a)
of this section so requests at any time during the period of that restriction not earlier than three months after the order was made or
three months after he last made such a request, as the case may be, his case shall be reviewed by an independent and impartial tribunal
presided over by a person appointed by the Chief Justice from among persons who are legal practitioners.
(5) On any review by a tribunal in pursuance of subsection (4) of this section of the case of any person whose freedom of movement
has been restricted, the tribunal may make recommendations concerning the necessity or expediency of the continuation of that
restriction to the authority by whom it was ordered and, unless it is otherwise provided by law, that authority shall be obliged to act in
accordance with any such recommendations.
Protection from discrimination on the grounds of race, etc.
13. (1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (4),(5) and (7) of this section, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory
either of itself or in its effect.
(2) Subject to the provisions of subsections (6),(7) and (8) of this section, no persons shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by
any persons acting by virtue of any written law or in the performance of the functions of any public office or any public authority.
(3) In this section, the expression "discriminatory" means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or
mainly to their respective descriptions by sex, race, place of origin, political opinions,color or creed whereby persons of one such
description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such descriptions are not made subject or are
recorded privileges of advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.
(4) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any law do far as that law makes provision-
a. for the appropriation of public revenues or other public funds;
b. with respect to persons who are not citizens;
c. for the application, in the case of persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) of this section (or of persons
connected with such persons), of the law with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other
like matters that is the personal law of persons of that description;
d. whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) of this section may be subjected to any disability or
restriction or may be accorded any privilege or advantage that, having regard to its nature and to special circumstances pertaining to
those persons or to persons of any other such description, is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.
(5) Nothing contained in any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subsection (1) of this section to the extent
that it makes provision with respect to standards or qualifications (not being standards or qualifications specifically relating to sex,
race, place or origin, political opinions, color or creed) to be required of any person who is appointed to or to act in any office or
employment.
(6) Subsection (2) of this section shall not apply to anything which is expressly or by necessary implication authorized to be done by
any such provision of law as is referred to in subsection (4) or subsection (5) of this section.
(7) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section
to the extent that the law in question makes provision whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) of
this section may be subjected to any restriction on the rights and freedoms guaranteed by sections 7,9,10,11 add 12 if this
Constitution, being such a restriction as is authorized by section 7(2), section 9(5)m section 10(2)m section 11(2) or paragraph (a),
(b) or (h) of section 12(3), as the case may be,.
(8) Nothing in subsection (2) of this section shall affect any discretion relating to the institution, conduct or discontinuance of civil or
criminal proceedings in any court that is vested in any person by or under this Constitution or any other law.
Derogations from s. 3 or s. 13 under emergency powers
14. Nothing contained in or done under the authority of a law enacted by Parliament shall be held to be inconsistent with or in
contravention of section 3 or section 13 of this Constitution to the extent that the law authorizes the taking during any period of public
emergency of measures that are reasonably justifiable for dealing with the situation that exists in Saint Vincent during that period.
Protection of persons detained under emergency laws.
15. (1) When a person is detained by virtue of any such law as is referred to in section 14 of this Constitution the following provisions
shall apply, that is to say:-
a. he shall, with reasonable promptitude and in any case not more than seven days after the commencement of his detention, be
informed in a language that he understands and in detail of the grounds upon which he is detained and furnished with a written
statement in English specifying those grounds in detail;
b. not more that fourteen days after the commencement of his detention, a notification shall be published in the Official Gazette stating
that he has been detained and giving particulars of the provision of law under which his detention is authorized;
c. not more than one month after the commencement of his detention and thereafter during his detention at intervals of not more than
sic month, his case shall be review by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law and presided over by a person appointed
by the Chief Justice from among persons who are legal practitioners;
d. he shall be afforded reasonable facilities for private communication and consultation with a legal practitioner of his own choice who
shall be permitted to make representations to the tribunal appointed for the review of the case of the detained person; and
e. at the hearing of his case by the tribunal appointed for the review of his case he shall be permitted to appear in person or to be
represented by a legal practitioner of his own choice.
(2) On any review by a tribunal in pursuance of this section of the case of a detained person, the tribunal may make recommendations
concerning the necessity of expediency of continuing his detention to the authority by which it was ordered but, unless it is otherwise
provided by law, that authority shall not be obliged to act in accordance with sly such recommendations.
(3) Nothing contained in subsection (1)d. or subsection (1)e. of this section shall be construed as entitling a person to legal
representation at public expense.
Enforcement of protective provisions.
16. (1) If any person allege that any of the provisions of sections 2 to 15 inclusive of this Constitution has been, is being or is likely to
be contravened in relation to him (or, in the case of a person who is detained, if any other person alleges such a contravention in
relation to the detained person), then, without prejudice to any other action with respect to the same matter that is lawfully available,
that person (or that other person) may apply to the High Court for redress.
(2) The High Court shall have original jurisdiction-
a. to hear and determine any application made by any person in pursuance of subsection (1) of this section, and
b. to determine any question arising in the case of any person which is referred to it in pursuance of subsection (3) of this section,
and may make such declarations and orders, issue such writs and give such directions as it may consider appropriate for the purpose
of enforcing or securing the enforcement of any of the provisions of sections 2 to 15 (inclusive) of this Constitution:
Provided that the High Court may decline to exercise its powers under this subsection if it is satisfied that adequate means of redress
for the contravention alleged are or have been available to the person concerned under any other law.
(3) If in any proceeding in any court (other than the Court of Appeal or the High Court or a court-martial) any question arises as to the
contravention of any of the provisions of sections 2 to 15 (inclusive) of this Constitution, the person presiding in that court may, and
shall if any party to the proceedings so request, refer the question to the High Court unless, in his opinion, the raising of the question is
merely frivolous or vexatious.
(4) Where any question is referred to the High Court in pursuance of subsection (3) of this section, the High Court shall gibe its
decision upon the question and the court in which the question arose shall dispose of the case in accordance with that decision or, if
that decision is the subject of an appeal to the Court of Appeal or to Her Majesty in Council, in accordance with the decision of the
Court of Appeal or,as the case may be, of Her Majesty in Council.
(5) The High Court shall have such powers in addition to those conferred by this section as may be conferred upon it by Parliament
for the purpose of enabling or more effectively to exercise the jurisdiction conferred upon it by this section.
(6) The Chief Justice may make rules with respect to the practice and procedure of the High Court in relation to the jurisdiction and
power conferred on it by or under this section (including rules with respect to the time within which applications may be brought and
references shall be made to the High Court).
Declaration of emergency
17. (1) The Governor General may, by proclamation which shall be published in the Official Gazette, declare that a state of emergency
exist for the purposes of this Chapter.
(2) A proclamation under this section shall not be effective unless it contains a declaration that the Governor-General is satisfied-
a. that a public emergency has arisen as a result to the imminence of a state of war between Saint Vincent and a foreign state;
b. that a public emergency has arisen as a result of the occurrence of any volcanic eruption, earthquake,hurricane, flood,fire, outbreak
of pestilence or of infectious disease, or other calamity whether similar to the foregoing or not; or
c. that action has been taken, or is immediately threatened by any person, of such a nature and on so extensive a scale, as to be likely
to endanger the public safety or to deprive the community or any substantial portion of the community of supplies or services essential
to life.
(3) Every declaration of emergency shall lapse-
a. in the case of a declaration made when the House is sitting, at the expiration of a period of seven days beginning with the date of
publication of the declaration; and
b. in any other case, at the expiration of a period of twenty-one days beginning with the date of publications of the declarations, unless
it has in the meantime been approved by resolution of the House.
(4) A declaration of emergency may at any time be revoked by the Governor-General by proclamation which shall be published in the
Official Gazette.
(5) A declaration of emergency that has been approved by resolution of the House in pursuance of subsection (2) of this section shall,
subject to the provisions of subsections (3) of this section, remain in force so long as the resolution remains in force and no longer.
(6) a resolution of the House passed for the purposes of this section shall remain in force for twelve months or such shorter period as
may be specified therein;
Provided that any such resolution may be extended from time to time by a further such resolution, each extension not exceeding
twelve months from the date of the resolution effecting the extension; and any such resolution may be revoked at any time by a further
resolution.
(7) A resolution of the House for the purpose of subsection(2) of this section and a resolution of the House extending any such
resolution shall not be passed in the House unless it is supported by the votes of two-thirds of all the Representatives; and a resolution
revoking any such resolution shall not be so passed unless it is supported by the votes of a majority of all the Representatives.
(8) Any provision of this section that a declaration of emergency shall lapse or cease to be in force at any particular time is without
prejudice to the making of a further such declaration whether before or after that time.
Interpretation and saving.
18. (1) In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires-
"contravention", in relation to any requirement, includes a failure to comply with that requirement, and cognate expressions shall be
construed accordingly;
"court" means any court of law having jurisdiction in Saint Vincent other than a court established by a disciplinary law, and includes
Her Majesty in Council and in sections 2 and 4 of this Constitution a court established by a disciplinary law;
"disciplinary law" means a law refuting the discipline of any disciplined force;
"discipline force" means-
a. a naval, military or air force;
b. the Police Force; or
c. a prison service;
"legal practitioner" means a person entitled to be in or to enter Saint Vincent and entitled to practice as a barrister in Saint Vincent or
except in relation to proceedings before a court in which a solicitor has no right of audience, entitled to practice as a solicitor in Saint
Vincent;
"member", in relation to a disciplined force, includes any person who, under the law regulating the discipline of that force, is subject to
that discipline.
(2) In this Chapter "period of public emergency" means any period during which-
a. Her Majesty is at war; or
b. a declaration of emergency is in force under section 17 of this Constitution.
(3) In relation to any person who is a member of a disciplined force of Saint Vincent, nothing contained in or done under the authority
of the disciplinary law of that force shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of any of the provisions of this Chapter
other than sections 2, 4 and 5 of this Constitution.
(4) In relation to any person who is a member of a disciplined force of a country other than Saint Vincent that is lawfully present in
Saint Vincent, nothing contained in or done under the authority of the disciplinary law of that force shall be held to be inconsistent with
or in contravention of any of the provisions of this Chapter.
PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
Fundamental rights and freedoms
1. Where every person in Saint Vincent is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms, that is to say, the right, whatever his race,
place of origin, political opinions, color, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public
interest, to each and all of the following, namely-
a. life, liberty, security of the person and the protection of the law;
b. freedom of conscience, of expressions and of assembly and association: and
c. protection for the privacy of his home and other property and from deprivation of property without compensation,
the provisions of this Chapter shall have effect for the purpose of affording protection to those rights and freedoms subject to such
limitations of that protection as are contained in those provisions, being limitations designed to ensure that the enjoyment of the said
rights and freedoms by any person does not prejudice the rights and freedoms of other or the public interest.
Protection of right to life.
2. (1) No person shall be deprived of his life intentionally save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence
under any law of which he has been convicted.
(2) A person shall not be regarded as having been deprived of his life in contravention of this section if he dies as the result of the use,
to such extent and in such circumstances as are permitted by law, of such force as is reasonably justifiable-
a. for the defence of any person from violence or for the defence of property;
b. in order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained;
c. for the purpose of suppressing a riot, insurrection or mutiny; or
d. in order to prevent the commission by that person of a criminal offence,
or if he dies as the result of a lawful act of war.
Protection of right to personal liberty.
3. (1) No person shall be deprived of his personal liberty save as may be authorized by law in any of the following cases, that is to say:-
a. in execution of the sentence or order of a court, whether established for Saint Vincent or some other country, in respect of a
criminal offence of which he has been convicted;
b. in execution of the order of the High Court or the Court of Appeal punishing him for contempt of that court or of another court or
tribunal;
c. in execution of the order of a court made to secure the fulfillment of any obligation imposed on him by law,
d. for the purpose of bringing him before a court in execution of the order of a court;
e. upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed, or being about to commit, a criminal offence under any law.
f. under the order of a court or with the consent of his parent or guardian, for his education or welfare during any period ending not
later than the date when he attains the age of eighteen years;
g. for the purpose of preventing the spread of an infectious or contagious disease;
h. in the case of a person who is, or is reasonably suspected to be of unsound mind, addicted to drugs or alcohol, or vagrant, for the
purpose of his care or treatment of the protection of the community;
i. for the purpose of preventing the unlawful entry of that person into Saint Vincent, or for the purpose of effecting the expulsion,
extradition or other lawful removal of that person from Saint Vincent or for the purpose of restricting that person while he is being
conveyed through Saint Vincent in the course of his extradition or removal as a convicted prisoner from one country to another; or
j. to such extent as may be necessary in the execution of a lawful order requiring that person to remain within a specified area within
Saint Vincent, or prohibiting him from being within such an area, or to such extent as may be reasonably justifiable for the taking of
proceedings against that person with a view to the making of any such order or relating to such an order after it has been made, or to
such extent as may be reasonably justifiable for restraining that person during any visit that he is permitted to make to any part of Saint
Vincent in which, in consequence of any such order, his presence would otherwise be unlawful.
(2) Any person who is arrested or detained shall with reasonable promptitude and in any case no later than twenty-four hours after
such arrest or detention be informed in a language that he understands of the reasons for his arrest of detention and be afforded
reasonable facilities for private communication and consultation with a legal practitioner of his own choice and, in the case of a minor,
with his parents or guardian.
(3) Any person who is arrested or detained-
a. for the purpose of bringing him before a court in execution of the order of a court; or
b. upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed, or being about to commit, a criminal offence under any law.
and who is not released, shall be brought without undue delay before a court.
(4) Where any person is brought before a court in execution of the order of a court in any proceedings or upon suspicion of his having
committed or being about to commit an offence, he shall not be thereafter further held in custody in connection with those
proceedings or that offence save upon the order of a court.
(5) If any person arrested or detained as mentioned in subsection (3)b. of this section is not tried within a reasonable time, without
prejudice to any further proceedings that may be brought against him, he shall be released either unconditionally or upon reasonable
conditions, including in particular such conditions as are reasonably necessary to ensure that he appears at a later date for trial or for
proceedings preliminary to trial.
(6) Any person who is unlawfully arrested or detained by any other person shall be entitled to compensation therefore from that other
person or from any other person or authority on whose behalf that other person was acting;
Provided that a judge, a magistrate or a justice of the peace or an officer of a court or a police officer acting in pursuance of the order
of a judge, a magistrate or a justice of the peace shall not be under any personal liability to pay compensation under this subsection in
consequence of any act performed by him in good faith in the discharge of the functions of his office and any liability to pay any such
compensation in consequence of any such act shall be a liability of the Crown.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a) of this section a person charged before a court with a criminal offence in respect of whom a
special verdict has been returned that he was guilty of the act or omission charged but was insane when he did the act or made the
omission or that he is not guilty by reason of insanity shall be regarded as a person who has been convicted of a criminal offence and
the detention of that person in consequence of such a verdict shall be regarded as detention in execution of the order of a court.
Protection from slavery and forced labor.
4. (1) No person shall be held in slavery or servitude.
(2) No person shall be required to perform forced labor.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the expression "forced labor" does not include_
a. any labor required in consequence of the sentence or order or a court;
b. labor required of any person while he is lawfully detained that, though not required in consequence of the sentence or order of a
court, is reasonably necessary in the interests of hygiene or for the maintenance of the place at which he is detained;
c. any labor required of a member of a disciplined force in pursuance of his duties as such or, in the case of a person who has
conscientious objections to service as a member of a naval, military or air force, any labor that person is required by law to perform in
place of such service;
d. any labor required during any period of public emergency or in the event of any other emergency or calamity that threatens the life
and well-being of the community, to the extent that the requiring of such labor is reasonably justifiable in the circumstances of any
situation arising or existing during that period or as a result of that other emergency or calamity, for the purpose of dealing with that
situation.
Protection from inhuman treatment
5. No person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading punishment or other treatment.
Protection from deprivation or property
6. (1) No property of any description shall be compulsorily taken possession of, and no interest in or right over property of any
description shall be compulsorily acquired, except for a public purpose and except where provision is made by a law applicable to that
taking of possession or acquisition for the payment, within a reasonable time, of adequate compensation.
(2) Every person having an interest in or right over property that is compulsorily taken possession of or whose interest in or right over
any property is compulsorily acquired shall have a right of direct access to the High Court for-
a. determining the nature and extent of that interest or right;
b. determining whether that taking of possession or acquisition was duly carried out in accordance with a law authorizing the taking of
possession or acquisition;
c. determining what compensation he is entitled to under the law applicable to that taking of possession or acquisition;
d. obtaining that compensation:
Provided that if Parliament so provides in relation to any matter referred to in paragraph (a) or (c) of this subsection the right of
access shall be by way of appeal (exercisable as of right at the instance of the person having the interest in or right over the property)
from a tribunal or authority, other than the High Court, having jurisdiction under any law to determine that matter.
(3) The Chief Justice may make rules with respect to the practice and procedure of the High Court or, subject to such provision as
may have been made in that behalf by Parliament, with respect to the practice and procedure of any other tribunal or authority in
relation to the jurisdiction conferred on the High Court by subsection (2) of this section or exercisable by the other tribunal or authority
for the purposes of that subsection (including rules with respect to the time within which applications or appeals to the High Court or
applications to the other tribunal or authority may be brought).
(4) No person who is entitled to compensation under this section shall be prevented from remitting, within a reasonable time after he
has received any amount of that compensation in the form of a sum of money or, as the case may be, has received any such amount
in some other form and has converted any or that amount into a sum of money, the whole of that sum of money(free from any
deduction; charge or tax made of levied in respect of its remission) to any country of his choice outside Saint Vincent.
(5) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subsection
(4) of this section to the extent that the law in question authorizes-
a. the attachment, by order of a court, of any amount of compensation to which a person is entitled in satisfaction of the judgment of
a court or pending the determination of civil proceedings to which he is a party;
b. the imposition of reasonable restrictions on the manner in which any sum of money is to be remitted; or
c. the imposition of reasonable restrictions in the remission of nay sum of money in order to prevent or regulate the transfer to a
country outside Saint Vincent of capital raised in Saint Vincent, or in some other country or derived from the natural resources of
Saint Vincent.
(6) nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subsection
(1) of this section-
a. to the extent that the law in question makes provision for the taking of possession or acquisition of any property, interest or right-
i) in satisfaction of any tax, rate or due;
ii) by way of penalty for breach of any law or forfeiture in consequence of breach of any law;
iii) as an incident of a lease, tenancy, mortgage,charge, bill of sale, pledge or contract;
iv) in the execution of judgments or orders of a court in proceedings for the determinations of civil rights or obligations;
v) in circumstances where it is reasonably necessary so to do because the property is in a dangerous state or likely to be injurious to
the health of human beings, animal or plants;
vi) in consequence of any law with respect to the limitation of actions; or,
vii) for so long only as may be necessary for the purposes of any examination, investigation, trial or inquiry or, in the case of land, for
the purposes of the carrying out thereon of work of soil conservation or the contravention of other natural resources or work relating
to agricultural development or improvement (being work relating to such development or improvement that the owner or occupier of
the land has been required, and has without reasonable excuse refused or failed, to carry out),
and except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably
justifiable in a democratic society; or
b. to the extent that the law in question makes provision for the taking of possession or acquisition of any or the following property
(including an interest in or right over property), that is to say-
i) enemy property;
ii) property of a deceased person,a person of unsound mind or a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years, for the
purpose of its administration for the benefit of the persons entitled to the beneficial interest therein;
iii) property of a person adjudged bankrupt or a body corporate in liquidation, for the purpose of its administration for the benefit of
the creditors of the bankrupt or body corporate and, subject thereto, for the benefit of other persons entitled to the beneficial interest in
the property; or
iv) property subject to a trust, for the purpose of vesting the property in persons appointed as trustees under the instrument creating
the trust or by a court or, by order of a court, for the purpose of giving effect to the trust.
(7) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law enacted by Parliament shall be held to be inconsistent with or in
contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision for the compulsory taking of possession of any
property, or the compulsory acquisition of any interest in or right over property, where that property, interest or right is held by a
body corporate established by law for public purposes in which no monies have been invested other than monies provides by
Parliament.
(8) In this section-
"property" means any land or other thing capable of being owned or held in possession and includes any right relating thereto, whether
under a contract, trust or law or otherwise and whether present or future, absolute or conditional;
"acquisition" in relation to an interest in or right over property, means transferring that interest or right to another person or
extinguishing or curtailing that interest or right.
Protection from arbitrary search or entry
7. (1) Except with his own consent, a person shall not be subjected to the search of his person or his property or the entry by others
on his premises.
(2) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section
to the extent that the law in question makes provision-
a. that is reasonably requires in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, town and country
planning,the development and utilization of mineral resources or the development or utilization of any property for a purpose beneficial
to the community;
b. that is reasonably required for the purpose of protecting the rights or freedoms of other persons;
c. that authorizes an officer or agent of the Government, a local government authority or a body corporate established by law for
public purposes to enter on the premises of any person in order to inspect those premises or anything thereon for the purpose of any
tax, rate or due or in order to carry out work connected with any property that is lawfully on those premises and that belongs to the
Government or to that authority or body corporate, as the case may be; or
d. that authorizes, for the purpose of enforcing the judgment or order of a court i any civil proceedings, the search or any person or
property by order of a court or entry upon any premises by such order,
and except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, anything done under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably
justifiable in a democratic society.
Provisions to secure protection of law
8. (1) If any person is charged with a criminal offence, then, unless the charge is withdrawn, the case shall be afforded a fair hearing
within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial court established by law.
(2) Every person who is charged with a criminal offence-
a. shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved or has pleaded guilty;
b. shall be informed as soon as reasonably practicable, in a language that he understands and in detail, of the nature of the offence
charged;
c. shall be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence;
d. shall be permitted to defend himself before the court in person or, at his own expense, by a legal practitioner of his own choice;
e. shall be afforded facilities to examine in person or by his legal representative the witnesses called by the prosecution before the
court, and to obtain the attendance and carry out the examination of witnesses to testify on his behalf before the court on the same
conditions as those applying to witnesses called by the prosecution; and
f. shall be permitted to have without payment the assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand the language used at the trial.
and except with his own consent the trial shall not take place in his absence unless he so conducts himself as to tender the continuance
of the proceedings in his presence impracticable and the court has ordered him to be removed and the trial to proceed in his absence;
Provided that the trial may take place in his absence in any case in which or is so provided by a law under which he is entitled to
adequate notice of the charge and the date, time and place of the trial and to a reasonable opportunity of appearing before the court.
(3) When a person is tried for any criminal offence, the accused person or any person authorized by him in that behalf shall, if he so
requires and subject to payment of such reasonable fee as may be prescribed by law, be given within a reasonable time after judgment
a coup for the use of the accused person of any record of the proceedings made by or on behalf of the court.
(4) A person shall not be held to be guilty of a criminal offence on account of any act or omission that did not, at the time it took
place, constitute such an offence, and no penalty shall be imposed for any criminal offence that is severer in severer in degree or
description than the maximum penalty that might have been imposed for that offence at the time when is was committed.
(5) A person who shows that he has been tried by a competent court for a criminal offence and either convicted of acquitted shall not
again be tried for that offence of which he could have been convicted at the trial for that offence, save upon the order of a superior
court in the course of appeal or review proceedings relating to the conviction or acquittal.
(6) A person shall not be tried for a criminal offence if he shows that he has been pardoned for that offence.
(7) A person who is tried for a criminal offence shall not be compelled to give evidence at the trial;
provided that nothing in this subsection shall prevent the prosecution or the court from commenting on his failure to give evidence on
his own behalf or prevent the court from drawing inferences from any such failure.
(8) Any court or other authority prescribed by law for the determination of the existence or extent of any civil right or obligation shall
be established by law and shall be independent and impartial; and where proceedings for such a determination are instituted by any
person before such a curt or other authority, the case shall be given a fair hearing within a reasonable time.
(9) Where the existence or extent of any civil right to obligation has been determined in proceedings in any court or before any other
authority any party to those proceedings shall, if he so requires as subject to payment of such reasonable fee as may be prescribed by
law, be entitled to obtain within a reasonable time after the judgment or other determination a copy of any record of the proceedings
made by or on behalf of the court or other authority.
(10) Except with the agreement of all the parties thereto,all proceedings of every court and proceedings for the determination of the
existence or extent of any civil right or obligation before any other authority, including the announcement of the decision of the court
or other authority, shall be held in public.
(11) Nothing is subsection (10) of this section shall prevent the court or other adjudicating authority from excluding from the
proceedings persons other than the parties thereto and the legal practitioners representing them to such extent as the court or other
authority-
a. may by law be empowered to do and may consider necessary or expedient in circumstances where publicity would prejudice the
interests of justice or interlocutory proceedings or in the interests of public morality,the welfare of persons under the age of eighteen
years or the protection of the private lives of persons concerned in the proceedings; or
b. may by law be empowered or required to do in the interests of defence, public safety or public order.
(12) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of-
a. subsection (2)(a.) of this section to the extent that the law in question imposes upon any person charged with a criminal offence the
burden of proving particular facts;
b. subsection (2)(e.) of this section to the extent that the law in question imposes reasonable conditions that must be satisfied if
witnesses called to testify on behalf of an accused person are to be paid their expenses out of public funds; or
c. subsection (5) of this sector to the extent that the law in question authorizes a court to try a member of a disciplined force for a
criminal offence notwithstanding any trial and conviction or acquittal of that member under the disciplinary law of that force, so
however, that any court so try in such a member and convicting him shall in sentencing him to any punishment take into account any
punishment awarded him under that disciplinary law.
(13) In the case of any person who is held in lawful detention the provisions of subsection(1) paragraph (d) and (e) of subsection (2)
and subsection (3) of this section shall not apply in relation to his trial for a criminal offence under the law regulating the discipline of
persons held in such detention.
(14) In this section "criminal offence" means a criminal offence under a law.
Protection of freedom of conscience
9. (1) Except with his own consent, a person shall not be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of conscience, including freedom
of thought and of religion, freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others, and both in
public and in private, to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
(2) Except with his own consent (or, if he is a person under the age of eighteen years, the consent of his guardian) a person attending
any place of education, detained in any prison or corrective institution or serving in a naval, military or air force shall not be required to
received religions instructions or to taken part in or attend any religious ceremony or observance if that instruction ceremony or
observance relates to a religion that is not his own.
(3) Every religious community shall be entitled, at its own expense, to establish and maintain places of education and to manage any
place of education which it maintains; as no such community shall be prevented from providing religious instruction for persons of
that community whether or not it is in receipt of a government subsidy or other form of financial assistance designed to meet in whole
or in part the cost of such course of education.
(4) A person shall not be compelled to take any oath which is contrary to his religion or belief or to take any oath in a manner that is
contrary to his religion or belief.
(5) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section
to the extent that the law in question makes provision which is reasonably required-
a. in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health;
b. for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedoms of other persons including the right to observe and practice any religion
without the unsolicited intervention or members of any other religion; or
c. for the purpose of regulating educational institutions in the interests of the persons who receive instruction in them,
and except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably
justifiable in a democratic society.
(6) References is this section to a religion shall be construed as including references to a religious denomination, and cognate
expressions shall be construed accordingly.
Protection freedom of expression
10. (1) Except with his own consent, a person shall not be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, including freedom
to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas
and information without interference (whether the communication be to the public generally or to any person or class of persons and
freedom from interference with his correspondence.
(2) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section
to the extent that the law in question makes provision-
a. that is reasonably required in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health;
b. that is reasonably required for the purpose of protecting the reputations, tights and freedoms of other persons or the private lives of
persons concerned in legal proceedings, preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, maintaining the authority and
independence of the courts or regulating the technical administration or the technical operation of telephony, telegraphy, posts,
wireless broadcasting or television; or
c. that imposes restrictions upon public officers that are reasonably required for the performance of their functions,
and except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the things done under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably
justifiable in a democratic society.
Protection of freedom of assembly and association
11. (1) Except with his own consent, a person shall not be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of assembly and association, that
is to say, his right to assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular to form or belong to trade unions or other
associations for the protection of his interests.
(2) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section
to the extent that the law in question makes provision-
a. that is reasonably required in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health;
b. that is reasonably required for the purpose of protecting the rights or freedoms of other persons; or
c. that imposes restrictions upon public officers that are reasonably required for the proper performance of their functions,
and except so far as that provisions or, as the case may be, the thing done under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably
justifiable in a democratic society.
Protection of freedom of movement.
12. (1) A person shall not be deprived of his freedom of movement that is to say, the right to more freely through Saint Vincent, the
right to reside in any part of Saint Vincent, the right to enter Saint Vincent, the right to leave Saint Vincent and immunity from
expulsion from Saint Vincent.
(2) Any restriction on a person's freedom of movement that is involved in his lawful detention shall not be held to be inconsistent with
or in contravention of this section.
(3) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section
to the extent that the law in question makes provision-
a. for the imposition of restrictions on the movement or residence within Saint Vincent of any person or on any person's right to leave
Saint Vincent that are reasonably required in the interests of defence, public safety or public order;
b. for the imposition of restrictions on the movement or residence within Saint Vincent or on the right to leave Saint Vincent of
persons generally or any class of persons in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health or, in
respect of the right to leave Saint Vincent, of securing compliance with any international obligation of the Government particulars of
which have been laid before the House and except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done under the authority
thereof is shown not to be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society;
c. for the imposition of restrictions, by order of a court, on the movement or residence within Saint Vincent of any person or on any
person's right to leave Saint Vincent either in consequence of his having been found guilty of a criminal offence under a law or for the
purpose of enduring that the appears before a court at a later date for trial of such a criminal offence or for proceedings preliminary to
trial or for proceedings relating to his extradition or lawful removal from Saint Vincent;
d. for the imposition of restrictions on the freedom of movement of any person who is not a citizen;
e. for the imposition of restrictions on the acquisition or use by any person of land or other property in Saint Vincent;
f. for the imposition of restrictions upon the movement or residence within Saint Vincent or on the right to leave Saint Vincent of any
public officer that are reasonably required for the proper performance of his functions;
g. for the removal of a person from Saint Vincent to be tried or punished in some other country for a criminal offence under the law
of that other country or to undergo imprisonment in some other country in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a
criminal offence under a law of which he has been convicted; or
h. for the imposition of restrictions on the right of any person to leave Saint Vincent that are reasonably required in order to secure the
fulfillment of any obligations imposed on that person by law and except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done
under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.
(4) If any person whose freedom of movement has been restricted by virtue of such a provision as is referred to in subsection (3)(a)
of this section so requests at any time during the period of that restriction not earlier than three months after the order was made or
three months after he last made such a request, as the case may be, his case shall be reviewed by an independent and impartial tribunal
presided over by a person appointed by the Chief Justice from among persons who are legal practitioners.
(5) On any review by a tribunal in pursuance of subsection (4) of this section of the case of any person whose freedom of movement
has been restricted, the tribunal may make recommendations concerning the necessity or expediency of the continuation of that
restriction to the authority by whom it was ordered and, unless it is otherwise provided by law, that authority shall be obliged to act in
accordance with any such recommendations.
Protection from discrimination on the grounds of race, etc.
13. (1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (4),(5) and (7) of this section, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory
either of itself or in its effect.
(2) Subject to the provisions of subsections (6),(7) and (8) of this section, no persons shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by
any persons acting by virtue of any written law or in the performance of the functions of any public office or any public authority.
(3) In this section, the expression "discriminatory" means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or
mainly to their respective descriptions by sex, race, place of origin, political opinions,color or creed whereby persons of one such
description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such descriptions are not made subject or are
recorded privileges of advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.
(4) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any law do far as that law makes provision-
a. for the appropriation of public revenues or other public funds;
b. with respect to persons who are not citizens;
c. for the application, in the case of persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) of this section (or of persons
connected with such persons), of the law with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other
like matters that is the personal law of persons of that description;
d. whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) of this section may be subjected to any disability or
restriction or may be accorded any privilege or advantage that, having regard to its nature and to special circumstances pertaining to
those persons or to persons of any other such description, is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.
(5) Nothing contained in any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subsection (1) of this section to the extent
that it makes provision with respect to standards or qualifications (not being standards or qualifications specifically relating to sex,
race, place or origin, political opinions, color or creed) to be required of any person who is appointed to or to act in any office or
employment.
(6) Subsection (2) of this section shall not apply to anything which is expressly or by necessary implication authorized to be done by
any such provision of law as is referred to in subsection (4) or subsection (5) of this section.
(7) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section
to the extent that the law in question makes provision whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) of
this section may be subjected to any restriction on the rights and freedoms guaranteed by sections 7,9,10,11 add 12 if this
Constitution, being such a restriction as is authorized by section 7(2), section 9(5)m section 10(2)m section 11(2) or paragraph (a),
(b) or (h) of section 12(3), as the case may be,.
(8) Nothing in subsection (2) of this section shall affect any discretion relating to the institution, conduct or discontinuance of civil or
criminal proceedings in any court that is vested in any person by or under this Constitution or any other law.
Derogations from s. 3 or s. 13 under emergency powers
14. Nothing contained in or done under the authority of a law enacted by Parliament shall be held to be inconsistent with or in
contravention of section 3 or section 13 of this Constitution to the extent that the law authorizes the taking during any period of public
emergency of measures that are reasonably justifiable for dealing with the situation that exists in Saint Vincent during that period.
Protection of persons detained under emergency laws.
15. (1) When a person is detained by virtue of any such law as is referred to in section 14 of this Constitution the following provisions
shall apply, that is to say:-
a. he shall, with reasonable promptitude and in any case not more than seven days after the commencement of his detention, be
informed in a language that he understands and in detail of the grounds upon which he is detained and furnished with a written
statement in English specifying those grounds in detail;
b. not more that fourteen days after the commencement of his detention, a notification shall be published in the Official Gazette stating
that he has been detained and giving particulars of the provision of law under which his detention is authorized;
c. not more than one month after the commencement of his detention and thereafter during his detention at intervals of not more than
sic month, his case shall be review by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law and presided over by a person appointed
by the Chief Justice from among persons who are legal practitioners;
d. he shall be afforded reasonable facilities for private communication and consultation with a legal practitioner of his own choice who
shall be permitted to make representations to the tribunal appointed for the review of the case of the detained person; and
e. at the hearing of his case by the tribunal appointed for the review of his case he shall be permitted to appear in person or to be
represented by a legal practitioner of his own choice.
(2) On any review by a tribunal in pursuance of this section of the case of a detained person, the tribunal may make recommendations
concerning the necessity of expediency of continuing his detention to the authority by which it was ordered but, unless it is otherwise
provided by law, that authority shall not be obliged to act in accordance with sly such recommendations.
(3) Nothing contained in subsection (1)d. or subsection (1)e. of this section shall be construed as entitling a person to legal
representation at public expense.
Enforcement of protective provisions.
16. (1) If any person allege that any of the provisions of sections 2 to 15 inclusive of this Constitution has been, is being or is likely to
be contravened in relation to him (or, in the case of a person who is detained, if any other person alleges such a contravention in
relation to the detained person), then, without prejudice to any other action with respect to the same matter that is lawfully available,
that person (or that other person) may apply to the High Court for redress.
(2) The High Court shall have original jurisdiction-
a. to hear and determine any application made by any person in pursuance of subsection (1) of this section, and
b. to determine any question arising in the case of any person which is referred to it in pursuance of subsection (3) of this section,
and may make such declarations and orders, issue such writs and give such directions as it may consider appropriate for the purpose
of enforcing or securing the enforcement of any of the provisions of sections 2 to 15 (inclusive) of this Constitution:
Provided that the High Court may decline to exercise its powers under this subsection if it is satisfied that adequate means of redress
for the contravention alleged are or have been available to the person concerned under any other law.
(3) If in any proceeding in any court (other than the Court of Appeal or the High Court or a court-martial) any question arises as to the
contravention of any of the provisions of sections 2 to 15 (inclusive) of this Constitution, the person presiding in that court may, and
shall if any party to the proceedings so request, refer the question to the High Court unless, in his opinion, the raising of the question is
merely frivolous or vexatious.
(4) Where any question is referred to the High Court in pursuance of subsection (3) of this section, the High Court shall gibe its
decision upon the question and the court in which the question arose shall dispose of the case in accordance with that decision or, if
that decision is the subject of an appeal to the Court of Appeal or to Her Majesty in Council, in accordance with the decision of the
Court of Appeal or,as the case may be, of Her Majesty in Council.
(5) The High Court shall have such powers in addition to those conferred by this section as may be conferred upon it by Parliament
for the purpose of enabling or more effectively to exercise the jurisdiction conferred upon it by this section.
(6) The Chief Justice may make rules with respect to the practice and procedure of the High Court in relation to the jurisdiction and
power conferred on it by or under this section (including rules with respect to the time within which applications may be brought and
references shall be made to the High Court).
Declaration of emergency
17. (1) The Governor General may, by proclamation which shall be published in the Official Gazette, declare that a state of emergency
exist for the purposes of this Chapter.
(2) A proclamation under this section shall not be effective unless it contains a declaration that the Governor-General is satisfied-
a. that a public emergency has arisen as a result to the imminence of a state of war between Saint Vincent and a foreign state;
b. that a public emergency has arisen as a result of the occurrence of any volcanic eruption, earthquake,hurricane, flood,fire, outbreak
of pestilence or of infectious disease, or other calamity whether similar to the foregoing or not; or
c. that action has been taken, or is immediately threatened by any person, of such a nature and on so extensive a scale, as to be likely
to endanger the public safety or to deprive the community or any substantial portion of the community of supplies or services essential
to life.
(3) Every declaration of emergency shall lapse-
a. in the case of a declaration made when the House is sitting, at the expiration of a period of seven days beginning with the date of
publication of the declaration; and
b. in any other case, at the expiration of a period of twenty-one days beginning with the date of publications of the declarations, unless
it has in the meantime been approved by resolution of the House.
(4) A declaration of emergency may at any time be revoked by the Governor-General by proclamation which shall be published in the
Official Gazette.
(5) A declaration of emergency that has been approved by resolution of the House in pursuance of subsection (2) of this section shall,
subject to the provisions of subsections (3) of this section, remain in force so long as the resolution remains in force and no longer.
(6) a resolution of the House passed for the purposes of this section shall remain in force for twelve months or such shorter period as
may be specified therein;
Provided that any such resolution may be extended from time to time by a further such resolution, each extension not exceeding
twelve months from the date of the resolution effecting the extension; and any such resolution may be revoked at any time by a further
resolution.
(7) A resolution of the House for the purpose of subsection(2) of this section and a resolution of the House extending any such
resolution shall not be passed in the House unless it is supported by the votes of two-thirds of all the Representatives; and a resolution
revoking any such resolution shall not be so passed unless it is supported by the votes of a majority of all the Representatives.
(8) Any provision of this section that a declaration of emergency shall lapse or cease to be in force at any particular time is without
prejudice to the making of a further such declaration whether before or after that time.
Interpretation and saving.
18. (1) In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires-
"contravention", in relation to any requirement, includes a failure to comply with that requirement, and cognate expressions shall be
construed accordingly;
"court" means any court of law having jurisdiction in Saint Vincent other than a court established by a disciplinary law, and includes
Her Majesty in Council and in sections 2 and 4 of this Constitution a court established by a disciplinary law;
"disciplinary law" means a law refuting the discipline of any disciplined force;
"discipline force" means-
a. a naval, military or air force;
b. the Police Force; or
c. a prison service;
"legal practitioner" means a person entitled to be in or to enter Saint Vincent and entitled to practice as a barrister in Saint Vincent or
except in relation to proceedings before a court in which a solicitor has no right of audience, entitled to practice as a solicitor in Saint
Vincent;
"member", in relation to a disciplined force, includes any person who, under the law regulating the discipline of that force, is subject to
that discipline.
(2) In this Chapter "period of public emergency" means any period during which-
a. Her Majesty is at war; or
b. a declaration of emergency is in force under section 17 of this Constitution.
(3) In relation to any person who is a member of a disciplined force of Saint Vincent, nothing contained in or done under the authority
of the disciplinary law of that force shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of any of the provisions of this Chapter
other than sections 2, 4 and 5 of this Constitution.
(4) In relation to any person who is a member of a disciplined force of a country other than Saint Vincent that is lawfully present in
Saint Vincent, nothing contained in or done under the authority of the disciplinary law of that force shall be held to be inconsistent with
or in contravention of any of the provisions of this Chapter.
In 1783 control of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was ceded from France to the United
Kingdom. Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a separate
administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and
independence on 27 October 1979. On the same day Statutory Instrument 1979, No. 916
was issued by Queen Elizabeth putting the Constitution into effect. A referendum to replace
the Constitution was defeated by an overwhelming popular vote on 25 November 2009.
Human rights are assured in Chapter One and conform to the 1948 Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. For the full English text of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' constitution,
click here.
Kingdom. Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a separate
administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and
independence on 27 October 1979. On the same day Statutory Instrument 1979, No. 916
was issued by Queen Elizabeth putting the Constitution into effect. A referendum to replace
the Constitution was defeated by an overwhelming popular vote on 25 November 2009.
Human rights are assured in Chapter One and conform to the 1948 Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. For the full English text of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' constitution,
click here.