CARIBBEAN COUNCIL FOR THE BLIND
MEMBERSHIP: – CATEGORIES, QUALIFICATION, APPLICATION, ADMISSION, SUCCESSION, SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION.
The Caribbean Region:
For the purpose of the Constitution, the region shall include countries and territories situated in the Caribbean Sea and the Bahamas, Bermuda, Belize, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.
Categories of Membership – (Chapter IV – Article VI):
Membership of the Council shall be in three categories:
- Organisational Members
(b) Associate Members
- Honorary Members
Article VII:
Qualification of Members:
- Any indigenous organisation of and for the blind and visually impaired operating in any of the countries and/or territories as defined by Article VI and working in support of the mission of Council shall become qualified to Organisational membership.
(b) Any organisation working in the field of blindness and visual impairment and/or in the prevention of disability or the rehabilitation of disabled persons with objectives in support of the mission of Council shall become qualified to Associate Membership.
- Any person or persons whose actions enhance and further promote the mission and objectives of the Council shall become qualified for Honorary Membership.
(d) The nomination of any organisation or person for organisational, associate or honorary membership shall be in writing signed by every person nominating, and addressed to the Secretary, and thereupon the person or organisation so nominated shall become qualified to become a member.
Article VIII:
An application for membership to the Council shall be signed by an authorised officer of the applying organisation or agency and shall provide the following information:-
- name and mailing address of organisation;
(b) copy of legal or other governing documents of the organisation;
- name and address of Executive Members of the organisation;
(d) description of programmes and activities of the organisation.
Article IX:
An application for membership to the Council shall be received by the Secretariat and be reviewed by the Executive Committee of the Council prior to
submission to the General Meeting for approval by a two-thirds majority of members present and having the right to vote.
Article X:
Honorary Members shall be recommended by the Member Organisation/Agencies to the Executive Committee and approved at an Annual General Meeting by two-thirds of members present and having the right to vote.
Article XI:
ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
- Any organisation may after being qualified to be a member and after being
approved by the General Meeting, signify by writing to the Secretary of the Council his desire to become such Organisational or Associate Member, and the Secretary shall thereupon enter the name of such organisation in the books of the Council and upon such entry such organisation shall become an Organisational or Associate Member.
(b) Organisational and Associate Membership shall be subject to the payment of annual dues of US$50.00 or its equivalent in local currency, or any such dues as fixed by the General Meeting of the Council payable on or before the 31st day of January of the current year.
CHAPTER V: INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP.
Article XII:
The General Meeting shall approve for International Partnership any non-government, non-profit international organisation making a significant contribution in the region, in support of the missions and objectives of the Council. International partners shall be entitled to attend and to participate in General Meetings of the Council, without the right to vote and shall receive reports and communications from these Meetings.
CHAPTER VI: SUCCESSION, SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION FROM MEMBERSHIP.
Article XIII:
Any member may, with three months notice in writing to the Secretary of the Council, withdraw its membership from the Council. Withdrawing members shall not be entitled to reimbursement of the dues paid for the current year.
Article XIV:
Any organisation may be suspended or expelled from the Council’s membership by the General Meeting, for failure to pay annual dues as determined under Chapter IV, Article IX (b) of this Constitution or failure to support the mission and objectives of the Council, by a two-thirds majority vote of members present and having the right to vote.
Reference:
[Extract from Rules and Constitution of The Caribbean Council for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CCB) – 5/1992 of the Friendly Societies Act Cap. 126 – Antigua and Barbuda].