Article 5 Existing lawsI1

Subject to this section, the existing laws shall have effect on and after the appointed day as if they had been made in pursuance of the Constitution and shall be construed with such modifications, adaptations, qualifications and exceptions as may be necessary to bring them into conformity with the Constitution.

Where any matter that falls to be prescribed or otherwise provided for under the Constitution is prescribed or provided for by or under an existing law (including any amendment to any such law made under this section), that prescription or provision shall, as from the appointed day, have effect (with such modifications, adaptations, qualifications and exceptions as may be necessary to bring it into conformity with the Constitution) as if it had been made under the Constitution.

The Governor, acting in his or her discretion, may by order made at any time within twelve months after the appointed day make such amendments to any existing law as may appear to him or her to be necessary or expedient for bringing that law into conformity with the Constitution or otherwise for giving effect or enabling effect to be given to the Constitution; and the Governor may in like manner amend or revoke any such order.

This section is without prejudice to any powers conferred by the Constitution or by any other law on any person or authority to make provision for any matter, including the amendment or repeal of any existing law.

For the purposes of this section, “existing laws” means laws and instruments (other than Acts of Parliament of the United Kingdom and instruments made under them) having effect as part of the law of St Helena, Ascension or Tristan da Cunha immediately before the appointed day.