Injured Protective Officers to be Compensated by Law

Contact: Prime Minister's Press Secretary

Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - The Government of Saint Lucia is about to enact legislation to allow for compensation for police, fire and correctional officers who may be injured in the line of duty.

Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony announced the Government’s plan to introduce the Protective Services Compensation Bill, which will provide for the payment of compensation in respect of personal injury or death of officers of the protective services as a result of or in the course of employment with the state.

Under the legislation, Protective Services include the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, the Fire Service and the Correctional Service and its provisions will allow for the establishment of a compensation Commission.

The functions of the commission will include the investigation, hearing and determination of claims for compensation and sets out the benefits that are to be granted in respect of death or injury.

The Bill provides too for a right of appeal by a person aggrieved by a decision of the commission. The commission will also be able to consider compensation otherwise awarded.

The new legislation, when passed, will also provide for protection from disentitlement and disqualification from making a claim in respect of personal injury or death.

The draft of the bill, which has 40 sections and was prepared by the Attorney genera’s Department, was published as an appendix to the current issue of the Saint Lucia Government Gazette.

[ Home ] [ Up ] [Site Help]

© 2006 Government Information Service. All rights reserved.

Read our privacy guidelines.