Saint Lucia

The Definition of Terrorism in Domestic Law

The 2015 Anti-Terrorism Act defines a terrorist act as follows:

(a) an act or omission in or outside Saint Lucia which constitutes an offence  within the scope of a counter terrorism convention;

(b) an act or threat of action in or outside Saint Lucia which—

  (i) involves serious bodily harm to a person, 

  (ii) involves serious damage to property, 

  (iii) endangers a person’s life,

  (iv) creates a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or a section of the public,

  (v) involves the use of firearms or explosives,

  (vi) involves releasing into the environment or any part thereof or distributing or exposing the public or any part thereof— (aa) any dangerous, hazardous, radioactive or harmful substance, (ab) any toxic chemical, (ac) any microbial or other biological agent or toxin,

  (vii) is designed or intended to disrupt any computer system by the provision of services directly related to communications infrastructure, banking or financial services, utilities transportation or other essential infrastructure,

  (viii) is designed or intended to disrupt the provision of essential emergency services such as police, civil defence or medical services,

  (ix) involves prejudice to national security or public safety, and is intended, or by its nature and context, may reasonably be regarded as being intended to—

       (aa) intimidate the public or a section of the public, or

      (ab) compel a government or an international organization to do, or refrain from doing, any act, and

      (ac) is made for the purpose of advancing a political, ideological,  or religious cause.S. 2, 2015 Anti-Terrorism Act. 

The definition was not changed in the 2019 Amendment Act.

There is a specific carve-out for the exercise of certain fundamental rights. Thus, an act which

(i) disrupts any services, and 

(ii) is committed in pursuance of a protest, demonstration or stoppage of work, 

shall be deemed not to be a terrorist act within the meaning of this definition, so long and so long only as the act is not intended to result in any harm referred to in sub-paragraphs (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of paragraph (b).S. 2, 2015 Anti-Terrorism Act. 

Adherence to Global and Regional Terrorism Treaties

St Lucia is a State Party to all of the main United Nations treaties on terrorism.

St Lucia is a signatory but not a State Party to the main regional treaty on terrorism.

Laws and Penalties for Terrorist Offences

The maximum sentence for terrorist offences under St Lucian law is twenty-five years' imprisonment. A maximum of ten years in prison is the sentence for membership of a terrorist group.S.18(1), 2015 Anti-Terrorism Act.

Counterterrorism Capacities and Policies at Domestic Level

The St Lucia police do not have dedicated counterterrorism expertise.