Cap. 188 Art. 26Provisions relating to time.

(1) The Minister and any officer of the Government authorised in that behalf by the Minister may:

(a) declare that any period specified in Chapter III of the Constitution of Malta as it was in force prior to the enactment of the Constitution of Malta (Amendment) Act, 2000, within which a person therein referred to could have made an application for registration, shall, in relation to any such person who is of unsound mind during that period, be so extended as to permit, in the opinion of the Minister or such authorised officer, such person when of sound mind an opportunity of making application for registration under the said Chapter III as it was in force prior to the enactment of the Constitution of Malta (Amendment) Act, 2000;

(b) in any other case in which he is satisfied that any person referred to in Chapter III of the Constitution of Malta as it was in force prior to the enactment of the Constitution of Malta (Amendment) Act, 2000, is by reason of any circumstances not attributable to his default or neglect, unable to make application within the period specified or prescribed in relation to that person in such Chapter, declare that such period in relation to that person shall be so extended as to permit, in the opinion of the Minister or such authorised officer, that person an opportunity of making application for registration under Chapter III of the Constitution of Malta as it was in force prior to the enactment of the Constitution of Malta (Amendment) Act, 2000.

(2) The power of the Minister and any officer of the Government authorised on that behalf by the Minister under this article may be exercised before or after the expiration of the relevant period specified in Chapter III of the Constitution of Malta as it was in force prior to the enactment of the Constitution of Malta (Amendment) Act, 2000.