Under the Foreign National and Commonwealth Citizens (Employment) Regulation, No. 3 of 1971, all persons who are not St. Lucian Nationals or Citizens require a work permit to engage in any form of occupation on the island. This can be obtained from the Labour Department of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Home Affairs and Labour, John Compton Highway, Castries, St. Lucia.
Establishing a Company:
Incorporating a company must be done through a lawyer registered in St. Lucia. Documents required are:
- Declaration of Compliance;
- Memorandum of Association;
- Articles of Association.
These documents are to be filed with the Registrar of Companies and a fee of two thousand Eastern Caribbean dollars (EC$2, 000.00) paid to the same. Upon incorporation, the company is issued a Certificate of Incorporation.
Local Taxes and Fees:
Depending on its location in St. Lucia and the nature of its business, the company would be required to pay fees to the Castries City Council (located on Peynier Street, Castries) or respective town or village council. These relate to taxes on property and trading fees which are payable on an annual basis.
Other Regulations:
If a company is desirous of developing land it must apply for permission to do so from the Planning Department of the Ministry of Finance, Planning, Information Services and the Public Service (First Floor, Block C, New Government Buildings, John Compton Highway, Castries). The application which must be made in triplicate should be accompanied by maps and plans. Failure by authorities to give a decision for development approval within ninety days may be deemed a refusal. The applicant however, has the right to appeal.
In cases where the proposed development can have environmental implications, the Development Control Authority (DCA) of the Ministry of Finance, Planning, Information Services and the Public Service would authorise the conduct of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the results of which would determine approval.
In the case of food operations these would require a permit from the Division of Public Health of the Ministry of Health, Human Services, Family Affairs and Women (Chaussee Road, Castries). These permits are granted on an annual basis.
Industrial Estates:
The Government has a number of industrial estates on the island which are managed by the National Development Corporation. Further information on rental fees can be obtained by contacting their offices in the Monplaisir Building, Brazil Street, Castries. Telephone No. 1 758 452 3614 Fax No. 1 758 452 1841. |
