2017 ndp constitution

CONSTITUTION of the

NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY

ADOPTED DECEMBER 3rd, 1975

AMENDED APRIL 7th, 2002

HON ARNHIM ULRIC EUSTACE PRESIDENT

JEANIE OLLIVIERRE SECRETARY GENERAL

CONSTITUTION of the THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY Article 1. NAME The name of the Organisation shall be the “ NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY” hereinafter referred to as the ‘Party’.

Article 2. PRINCIPLES The New Democratic Party shall be made up of progressive minded people of any race, colour or creed who are dedicated to the principles of democracy and who are interested in the sound and orderly development of the political, social, moral and economic welfare of the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and all the countries of the Caribbean.

Article 3. OBJECTS The objects of the Party are: (1) To raise the standard of living of the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines through the development of the economic resources of the country in a manner that provides equal opportunity for all; (2) To ensure the highest standard of rectitude in public life; (3) To guarantee the maximum expression of democratic liberties by all Citizens; (4) To encourage the organization of citizens into responsible groups for the advancement of their causes; (5) To support Caribbean Unification, including the unity of St. Vincent and the Grenadines with other States; (6) To lead in the building of a dynamic society.

Article 4. MEMBERSHIP (1) All nationals of St. Vincent and the Grenadines at home and abroad of the age of thirteen years and upward shall be eligible for membership, (2) Application for membership shall be written on the form prescribed in the schedule to this constitution, (3) Every application shall be accompanied by the entrance fee of $5.00 or such other subscription as the Central Committee may from time to time prescribe, (4) Every member shall pay a monthly fee as the Central Committee may from time to time prescribe, (5) Every member shall be a member of the Constituency Division in which the member resides or works, provided that the member does not belong to more than on Constituency Division, (6) The Secretary of each group of the Party shall forthwith submit the application form of each new member to the Secretary General who shall cause the name of the such new member of the Party to be entered in the membership records of the Party;

(7) Notwithstanding any contained above in Clauses 4 (10 to 4 (60 any person who wishes to be a member of the Party without belonging to a Party Group may become a member on the payment of the prescribed fee and undertaking to honour the principles of the Party; (8) (a) Members referred to I Clause 4 (7) and who reside in a similar area may collectively petition the Secretary General at any time to constitute them into a Party Group; (b) Registration of such a group of members shall be done by the Secretary General within four weeks of receipt of the petition unless the Secretary General shall decide to refer the matter to the Central Committee within that time for a decision thereon.

Article 5. ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP (1) Groups of persons, associations, societies, Corporations and Companies wheher of a political nature or not, whether within or outside St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who conform to the Principles and Objects in Rules 2 and 3 are eligible for Associate Membership of the Party.

(2) Organizations referred to in Clause 5 (1) will be deemed Associate Members on application presented to and approved by the Central Committee.

Article 6. ARREARS Any member in arrears of payment of monthly subscription for one (1) year may, in the discretion of the Central Committee, be struck off the list of members, but may be re-instated on the payment of all such arrears and such other fine and on such other conditions as the Central Committee may direct.

Article 7. STRUCTURE OF THE PARTY The Party shall be constituted as follows: (1) The Party Group; (2) The Constituency Division; (3) The Central Committee; (4) The Parliamentary Caucus; and the (5) The Annual Convention These bodies, as well as the Officers as a body, shall be called the organs of the Party.

Article 8. OFFICERS The Officers of the party shall be the Chair, the President, two (2) Vice-Presidents, the Secretary General, the Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer and the Public Relations officers, and may conduct the business of the Party between meetings of the Central Committee.

Article 9. ELECTION OF OFFICERS (1) The President shall be elected by the Central Committee. The President shall serve for a term of three (3) years and shall be eligible for re-election.

(2) The Secretary General shall be elected by the Annual Convention for three (3) years and shall be eligible for re-election.

(3) The other Officers of the Party shall be elected by the Annual Convention and shall be eligible for re-election.

Article 10. FUNCTION OF OFFICERS (1) The Chair of the Party shall: - Report to the President of the Party; - Be the Chair of the Annual Convention; - Assist the President in coordinating Party activities; - Provide leadership to the Party, in conjunction with the President and Vice Presidents; - Assist the President in framing Party policy and providing assistance with its implementation; - Convene all meetings of the Party; both town hall and public; - Act as facilitator and arbitrator and when needs be, monitor Party projects and programs; - Advise the President on courses of action that would ensure the Party’s development and survival, and sustain its attractiveness to the electorate; - Assist the President in maintaining his “watch dog” role in fiduciary matters of the Party.

(2) The President shall be the Political Leader of the Party and shall preside over all meetings of the Officers, the Parliamentary Caucus and the Central Committee.

(3)A: The Vice-President Internal Matters shall:

- Report to the President; - Be responsible for planning, coordinating and controlling the activities of all the organs of the Party so as to make the Party the most attractive choice to the electorate in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; - Assist the President in the development of programs and policies and in particular the Party manifesto on an ongoing basis and in readiness for a general or by-election; - Approve activities of the organs especially as they relate to fund raising, public exchanges and images building of the party, in consultation with other relevant officers specifically the Secretary General and Treasurer; - Plans for the training and development of all the Party Organs, in consultation with the Secretary General;

- Monitors constantly the membership of the Party and measure against electoral objectives so that appropriate actions could be taken to remedy or

sustain the Party’s position for Government; - Sustain members interest, by systematically visiting Party Groups and Constituency Divisions on a periodic basis, to ensure that through their activities, the Party functions is in accordance with its constitutional provisions; - Work specifically with the President, assuming the role of Party tactician to adequately translate strategies and plans, and to mobilize all Party organs for their successful accomplishment; - Pursue courses of action that constantly renews the party and make it relevant to the prevailing times, in conjunction with all other executive members pursue.

(3)B The Vice-President – External Affairs shall: - Report to the President, - Pursue all public action working with the various public to make the Party deserving of public support including finance, membership, endorsement or any action that positions the Party as the choice of the electorate; - Plan, coordinate and control the activities of the Party designed to improve the public’s goodwill; - Support the President in facilitating regional and international meetings, courtesy calls and diplomatic consultations; - Foster through the PRO, a climate of openness and transparency and accessibility to the external environment; - Promote extra-regional relations with the Vincentian diaspora and to constantly pursue the formation of Party Groups; - Function as a Party strategist and work in close conjunction with consultants and or professionals required to assist the Party in developing action plans geared at electoral success; - Act as an Intelligence Agent constantly reviewing the positive and negative forces operating, to impact the Party and propose appropriate countervailing plans; - Pursue those courses of action that constantly renews the Party, including its philosophy and make it relevant to the prevailing times, in conjunction with all other executive members.

(4) The Secretary General shall as designated: - Report to the President, - Be responsible to the President, Vice President and Chair for the implementation of all Party programs and policies;

- Be responsible for all day to day operations of the Party

- Prepare annual budgets and calendar of political activities for the Party, in conjunction with the Treasurer and upon approval of the President;

- Maintain an effective information plan for the recording of all Party matters specifically membership, finance, publications, archives;

- Be actively involved in all program plan and implementation developed by officers of the Party and approved by the executive; - Record and prepare minutes of meetings of the Party covered by the President, Chair or Vice-President; - Promote the formation of Party Groups, Constituency Divisions and other Party Organs and formulate plans to sustain their growth.

BY CONSTITUTION: - Article 10 Serves as Party’s Chief Administrative Officer, Supervises and be responsible for the Party’s Secretariat; - Article 11: Receives notice from Young Democrats, Women’s Arm or Constituency Divisions of their replacement on the Central Committee; - Article 13: Supervises all elections of Party Groups. Any elections held in absence of the Secretary General or designate shall NOT be recognized by the Party; - Article 14: Requests meeting of Constituency when necessary; - Article 15: Informs Party organs; Constituency Division, Party Groups, Central Committee etc. of Annual Convention; - Prepares and presents report to the Annual Convention on the activities of the Party during the preceding year; - Article 16: Receives and processes requests for Extra Ordinary Convention from the President, Central Committee or 5 Constituency Divisions, the latter being certified through/by their Chairs; - Article 17: Receives records and process 50% of all entrance fees and 25% of all subscriptions, handed over by the Secretary of each Party Group; - Signs any sale, mortgage, lease or any other Party transaction; - Article 19: Receives grievances from members for processing and furthering to Annual Convention; - Article 21: Receives and forwards party notices; - Article 22: Signs along with President, the Central Committee’s approval for Party Groups affiliation with or lending political support to any other organization; - Article 23: Receives resolutions 2 weeks prior to Annual Convention and ensures their processing; (5)The Assistant Secretary shall assist the Secretary General in the performance of duties.

(6)The Treasurer shall be responsible for the safekeeping of the funds and books of account of the Party.

(7)The Public Relations Officer shall perform such duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the President, the Chairman, the Central Committee and the Annual Convention.

Article 11. THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE (1) The Central Committee shall be composed of the following persons: (a) The Officers of the Party in good standing; (b) Party Members of Parliament; (c) Foundation members of the Party so named; (d) Candidates of the Party in the most recent General or by-election; (e) The Chairperson of each Constituency Division; (f) Two representatives each from the Young Democrats, Women’s Arm and any Chapter; (g) Five additional persons elected by the Annual Convention; (h) Three additional persons named by the President.

(2) The Young Democrats, Women’s Arm, any Constituency Division and Chapters may at any time from time to time fill any vacancy in or may recall their nominee on the Central Committee and may replace such person temporarily or permanently with another nominee. Notice of such replacement shall be sent to the Secretary General to reach him/her at least one hour before the time of commencement of any meeting of the Central Committee in which such nominee intends to participate.

(3) The members of the Central Committee elected by the Annual Convention shall be eligible for re-election.

(4) Fifteen (15) members of the Central Committee shall constitute a quorum.

(5) The Central Committee may meet as frequently as necessary but shall hold at least one meeting every two months.

(6) A notice of any ordinary meeting of the Central Committee shall be sent to each member at least seven (7) days before the meeting.

(7) Extra-ordinary meetings of the Central Committee may be held after such periods of notice as may be practicable in the circumstances.

(8) Subject to the other provisions of this Constitution, the Central Committee shall: (a) Interpret this Constitution and the rules and decisions of the Party; (b) Ratify candidates selected for elections in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution; (c) Manage the property of the Party; (d) Control and direct all affairs of the party including the use of Party funds; (e) Issue statements of policy on behalf of the Party; (f) Appoint fit and proper persons as Auditors to undertake an annual audit of the books of account of the Party or of any organ of the Party;

(g) Set the date and place of the Annual Convention of the Party; (h) Hear and determine complaints referred to it by any organ or individual member of the Party.

(9) The Central Committee shall regulate its own procedure and the procedure at any Convention of the Party.

(10) (a) Any member of the Central Committee who without satisfactory excuse fails to attend three or more consecutive meetings of the Central Committee for which notice was received by him shall be summoned to attend a specially convened meeting of the Central Committee to show cause why he should not be expelled therefrom, and if such member fails without reasonable excuse to attend upon such summons or having attended, fails to show good cause, he shall be expelled from the Central Committee and, where his seat on the Central Committee is held by virtue of Article 11 (1) (e) or Article 11 (1) (f), such member shall also be expelled from the Constituency Division or from the Young Democrats, Women’s Arm or from any Chapter. (b) An appeal against expulsion under the provision of Paragraph (a) of Clause (10) hereof may be made to the Annual Convention within one month of the date of the expulsion, by letter communicated to the Secretary General.

(11) If any vacancy arises among those members of the Central Committee elected by the Annual Convention the Central Committee may in its discretion either fill the vacancy by such method as it may deem fit or await the holding of the next Annual Convention.

Article 12. THE PARLIAMENTARY CAUCUS The Parliamentary Caucus shall: a. Comprise all Members of Parliament in the Party and shall set Party Policy between meetings of the Central Committee, b. Meet as frequently as required, and upon such notice as the President may from time to time deem fit.

The President may invite to the deliberations of the Parliamentary Caucus any member or members of the party as he may deem fit.

Article 13. PARTY GROUPS (1) Members of the Party registered to vote in a constituency in which they reside or work, may organize themselves into Party Groups on the basis of geographical locations within each constituency; (2) Party Groups may at any time and from time to time either amalgamate to cover larger areas or decentralize into smaller party Groups as circumstances may require, provided that fresh elections to the Executive Committee of

each newly constituted Party Group shall be held not later than one month after the date of the decision either to amalgamate or to decentralize.

(3) Each Party Group shall elect annually an Executive comprised of the following persons:

(a) Chair

(b) Deputy Chair (optional)

(c) Secretary

(d) Assistant Secretary (optional)

(e) Treasurer

(f) Assistant Treasurer (optional)

(g) Public Relations Officer

(h) Assistant Public Relations Officer (optional)

(i) Committee members of such number as the Party Group with the approval of the Secretary General may from time to time determine.

(4) Each Party Group shall be designated as the …………………………. Party Group in the ……………………….. Constituency Division of the New Democratic Party.

(5) Vacancies on the Executive Committee may be filled by the Party Group in general meeting.

(6) All elections to positions on the Executive Committee of every Party Group shall be supervised by the Secretary General of the Party or by any member of the Central Committee designated so to do by the Secretary General.

Elections held without such supervision shall not be recognized by the Party.

The Secretary General shall be given at least twenty-one (21) days notice of an intention to hold elections (including an election to a vacant position) but the Secretary General may in his/her discretion accept a shorter period of notice.

(7) Each Party Group shall hold an Annual General meeting not later than six (6) weeks before the set for the Annual Convention of the Party, and at that Annual General Meeting shall receive reports from the Chairman, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the Public Relations Officer.

(8) Not later than two months after the close of the Annual Convention of the Party, each Party Group shall hold an Elections Meeting, at which a new Executive Committee shall be elected to hold office until the Elections Meeting. All members of the Executive Committee shall be eligible for reelection.

(9) Each Party Group shall hold at least one meeting each month. Any recommendation of the Party Group in respect of Party activities or policies shall be sent to the Constituency Secretary and copied to the Secretary General within seven (7) days of the meeting adopting such recommendation.

Article 14. CONSTITUENCY DIVISION (1) There shall be in each Constituency a Constituency Division comprising all the Party Groups therein, each Party Group being represented thereon by:

(a) the Chair, or in his/her absence the Deputy Chair;

(b) the Secretary, or in his/her absence the Assistant Secretary (if any);

(c) The Treasurer, or in his/her absence the Assistant Treasurer (if any);

(d) The Public Relations Officer, or in his absence the Assistant Public Relations officer (if any);

(e) Two (2) of the Committee Members.

(2) The Constituency Division shall be headed by an Executive elected from among the persons listed in Paragraph (a) to (e) of Clause (1) of this Article.

(3) The Executive of the Constituency Division shall comprise the following officers:

(a) the Constituency Chair

(b) the Constituency Deputy Chair

(c) the Constituency Secretary

(d) the Constituency Assistant Secretary

(e) the Constituency Treasurer

(f) the Constituency Assistant Treasurer

(g) the Constituency Public Relations Officer

(h) the Constituency Assistant Public Relations Officer (4) The Constituency Chair shall represent the Constituency Division on the Central Committee.

(5) It shall be the responsibility of the Constituency Division to recommend candidates to the President and to the Central Committee for ratification in respect of any election to the House of Assembly or any other election.

(6) The Constituency Executive may meet as frequently as may be appropriate, and must meet:

(a) when requested to do so by (i) the President, or (ii) the General Secretary, or (iii) the Constituency Representative in the House of Assembly; or (iv) a written request made by at least one-third of the number of Party Group Chair in that Constituency.

(b) At least once in every two months (7) The Constituency Division shall select the delegates to the Annual Convention in conjunction with the Constituency Representative; (8) The Constituency Division shall normally communicate with the organs of the party through the Constituency Representative, but may in its discretion communicate directly with any organ of the Party but such direct

communication must be notified to the Constituency Representative if verbal, and copied to him if written.

Article 15. THE ANNUAL CONVENTION (1) The Annual Convention shall normally be held during the months of July, August and/or September of each year, on such date or dates as the Central Committee shall from year to year determine.

(2) The Annual Convention may be held on such date or dates during such other month or months as the Central Committee may be reason of special circumstances determine.

(3) At least two (2) months notice of the date or dates of the Annual Convention shall be given:

(a) by written circular from the Secretary General to the Constituency Division and to each Party Group thereof,

(b) by public meetings and or

(c) by radio, television, press, notice boards or posters.

(4) The members of the Party eligible to attend and vote at the Annual Convention shall comprise:

(a) The members of the Central Committee,

(b) The Constituency delegates selected on the following basis: (i) There shall be a total of ten (10) delegates from each constituency or such other maximum number as the Central Committee may from time to time determine, (ii) Each Party Group shall nominate one delegate who should normally be the Chairman of that Party Group, (iii) The remaining delegates (if any) up to the current maximum number of delegates shall be selected by the Constituency Representative or by the approved Candidate, and where the Constituency has nether a Constituency Representative nor an approved Candidate, the remaining delegates shall be selected by the Custodian of the Party.

(5) No person shall become a delegate unless she/he has been a member of the Party for at least one year, (6) Party members who are not financial shall not be eligible to take any active part in the Annual Convention or to vote thereat, and shall not be eligible for nomination to nay position.

(7) The following persons may be permitted at the discretion of the Central Committee to attend Annual Conventions as mere observers without the right to speak, vote, or take any part in the proceedings: (a) Guests specially invited by (i) the President and or (ii) the Central Committee; and (b) Approved Observers

(8) Members of the Executive of any constituency Division (not being delegates) shall have the right to attend the Annual Convention as non-participating observers, (9) The Annual Convention may by special resolution suspend the operation of Clauses (5) and (6) of this Article to permit any named person or class of persons to attend the Annual Convention and/or to speak and vote thereat either generally or on any item of business.

(10) The business of the Annual Convention shall be: (a) To receive reports from the Chair, President, Secretary General and Treasurer on the activities of the Party during the preceding year; (b) To elect the Officers and members of the Central Committee in accordance with Article 11, Clause (1), Paragraph (g); (c) To issue policy statements; (d) To receive amendments to the Constitution; (e) To consider particular matters of which at least fourteen (14) days notice in writing shall be given to the Secretary General; (f) To consider such other matters as it might deem fit.

Article 16. EXTRA ORDINARY CONVENTION (1) An Extraordinary Convention of the Party may be called (a) by the President; (b) by the Central Committee; or (c) at the written request of at least five (5) Constituency Divisions signified through their Chair to the Secretary General.

(2) Any request for the convening of an Extraordinary Convention shall specify in reasonable detail the matter or matters required to be considered at such Convention, and no matter may be decided upon at such Convention notice of which shall not have been given to the Secretary General at the time of the request for such Convention unless approval of such Convention of a motion for the consideration of such matter.

(3) The period of notice for an Extraordinary Convention shall not be less than fourteen (14) days.

(4) The persons eligible to attend an Extraordinary Convention shall be the same as those specified in Article 15 hereof.

Article 17 A. FINANCE AND PROPERTY (1) One-half of all entrance fees shall be handed over by the Secretary of each party Group to the Secretary General on a monthly basis, and the remaining one-half of such fees shall be retained by each Party Group for its use, (2) One-quarter of the total sum of monthly subscriptions received by each Party Group shall be handed over by the Secretary of each party Group to the Secretary General on a monthly basis, and the remaining three-quarters of such subscription shall be retained by each party Group for its own use,

(3) The proportions set out in Clause (1) and (2) of this Article may be varied by the Central Committee from time to time provided that no such variations shall take effect until the expiry of six (6) months after the date of the decision by the Central Committee to vary the proportions, (4) All members of the Central Committee except:

(a) the representatives from the Constituency Divisions,

(b) the representatives of the Young Democrats and Women’s Arm and (c) the members elected by the Annual Convention shall pay a monthly subscriptions direct to the Secretary General in the sum of twenty dollars ($20.00) or such other sum as the Central Committee may from time to time determine; provided that the members who are obliged to pay the said monthly subscription shall not be obliged to pay in additional the normal monthly subscription fees to any Party Group to which such member may belong.

(5) Any member who is seven (7) months or more in arrears of any monthly subscription payable by him/her shall be deemed not to be financial, (6) Any member who is deemed not to be financial may not normally continue to hold any office in any organ of the Party or to be eligible to be selected or elected to such office or to participate in any meeting of any organ of the Party or vote thereat; provided that the restrictions hereby imposed may be relaxed or waived wholly or in part by any organ of the Party on any ground or grounds which to a majority of the members of such organ present and voting might seem just, provided further that any organ of the Party of higher rank may consider and may modify or overrule any such decision by any organ of the Party or lower rank, (7) Proper financial records and books of account shall be kept by all persons holding the positions of Secretary, Assistant Secretary, treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer in all organs of the Party. Such records shall be made available for the inspection within a period of forty-eight (48) hours notice by any Auditors appointed by the Central Committee, (8) The funds of the Party or of any organ of the Party not immediately required for current disbursement or for petty cash shall be maintained, preferably in the interest bearing accounts, in a reputable bank or banks selected by the Central Committee and no organ of the Party may maintain funds in any bank not approved by the Central Committee. Monies shall be deposited immediately upon receipt or so soon there-after as may be reasonably practicable, (9) Withdrawals by any organ of the Party from a bank account standing in the name of that organ shall be effected only upon the signatures of the authorized officers who shall be any two of the Chair, the Secretary General and the Treasurer.

(10) Withdrawals from any account standing in the name of the Party shall be effected only upon the signatures of any two of the following officers; President, the Secretary General and Treasurer.

(11) The Financial Year of the Party shall be deemed to end 31st December. Each succeeding Financial year shall be from the 1st day of January to the 31st day of December in the same year.

Article 17 B. TRUSTEES (1) There shall be five (5) Trustee of the Party as follows: (a) The President of the Party; and (b) Four (4) other fit and proper members of the Party elected annually by the Annual Convention, and who shall be eligible for re-election at subsequent Annual Conventions as many times as may be deemed fit.

(2) Apart from the President of the Party, no Trustee shall hold or act in any other office on the Central Committee.

(3) If any vacancy occurs in the office of Trustee the same may be filled by election thereto by the Central Committee and such Trustee shall then hold office until the next Annual Convention but shall be eligible for re-election thereat.

(4) All of the property of the Party of any kind shall be vested in the Trustee collectively, (5) No property of the Party may be sold, mortgaged, leased or otherwise disposed of or encumbered unless on the instruction of the Trustee made with the approval of or on the recommendation of the Central Committee signified in writing under the hand of either the President or Secretary General, (6) When acting or purporting to act in good faith in the discharge of their duties to the Party no Trustee shall be held personally liable for any act or omission or for the consequences thereof, (7) Trustees may be removed from office: (a) by the Annual Convention without cause shown; (b) by the Central Committee for; (c) persistent neglect of duties; (d) inability to perform the duties of the office by reason of physical or mental disability or by reason of prolonged absence abroad; (e) cessation of membership of the Party.

(8) The Trustees shall take the decisions by majority vote. Three Trustees shall form a quorum. The presiding Trustee shall be selected from meeting to meeting by agreement between those trustees who are present at the commencement of a meeting. Such presiding Trustee shall have a casting vote only.

(9) The signatures of any three Trustees on any document shall be sufficient evidence of the authentication of that document for all legal purposes whatsoever.

Article 18. SELECTION OF CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION (1) Whenever the Party shall have occasion to select a candidate to represent the Party in an election, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) (i) Where there are identifiable and functioning Party Groups in the Constituency but no Constituency Division has been organized, the President shall invite such Party Groups to hold formal deliberations upon the matter either in his presence or among themselves, and to inform him of their choice or choices subject to any guidelines the President might suggest to them, (ii) Based upon his assessment of the sentiments of the Party Groups, the President shall convey to the Central Committee either the name of a person fro ratification or the names of more than one person for selection by the Central Committee. (iii) The President shall not be bound to submit to the Central Committee the name of only one person merely by reason of the circumstance that the person received the approval of the majority of those participating in the consultative process as aforesaid, (iv) The person thus ratified or selected shall become the official candidate of the Party for that constituency, (b) Where there is a functioning Constituency Division the President shall follow the procedures laid down n Paragraphs (a) (i), (a) (ii), and (a) (iii) of Clause (1) hereof, save that in cases where a person receives the support of at least three-fourths of the members of the Constituency Division the President shall submit to the Central Committee for ratification the name of such person only; (c) The President shall invite selected representatives of either the Party Groups (in the circumstances of Paragraph (a) hereof) or of the Constituency Division (in the circumstances of Paragraph (b) hereof) to the meeting of the Central Committee at which the ratification or selection is to be undertaken, provided that such invitees may not vote at such meeting of the Central Committee unless by virtue of membership thereof. (d) Where there is no functioning organ of the Party in a constituency, the Central Committee shall select a candidate by such method as it may consider appropriate.

(2) Except for the President, every member who at the dissolution of the House of Assembly was an elected member, or who had unsuccessfully contested any previous election, and who is desirous of being nominated as a candidate of the Party in any pending election, shall be required to stand for re-selection by the Central Committee at a meeting to which the President shall invite the members of the Constituency Division or of the Party Group (as the case may be ) on the same conditions as set out in Paragraph (1) Š hereof,

Article 19. DISCIPLINE (1) The Central Committee shall have the power and authority after due inquiry and in conformity with the rules of natural justice to suspend for such time as may be deemed fit or to expel from the Party any person whose conduct or pronouncements are considered injurious to the interests, principles and general well-being of the Party, (2) Any member aggrieved by a decision of the Central Committee shall have a right of appeal to the Annual Convention, notice of which shall be sent in writing to the Secretary General within fourteen (14) days of the decision of the Central Committee, (3) The Central Committee may appoint such ad-hoc disciplinary committees or such tribunals to deal with specific disciplinary matters as may from time to time seem appropriate.

(4) (a) Any member who offers himself/herself as a candidate in an election against any official candidate of the Party shall be automatically expelled from the Party.

(b) Any member who actively or covertly campaigns against any official candidate of the Party or against the Party in general in an election shall be suspended by the President in consultation with the Officers and the Parliamentary Caucus of the Party, pending the referral of the matter to the Central Committee at the earliest practicable opportunity for fuller consideration thereof.

(5) Any member expelled from or otherwise ceasing to be a member of the Party shall forfeit all right to or any claim or claims upon the property of the Party as he would have enjoyed by reason of his membership.

Article 20 A. YOUTH ARM (1) There shall be a Youth Arm of the Party which shall be called the Young Democrats; (2) The Young Democrats shall have its own constitution in the keeping with the Principles, objects, and rules of the Party, (3) It shall be in order for a member to belong to the Young Democrats and to any other organ of the Party at one and the same time, (4) This Constitution shall be the Supreme Instrument of the Party and effect shall be given to the terms hereof in any case of conflict or in consistency between this Constitution and the Constitution or rules of the Young Democrats or any other organ of the Party.

Article 20B. WOMEN’S ARM (1) There shall be a Women’s Arm of the Party, (2) The Women’s Arm shall have its own constitution in the keeping with the Principles, objects, and rules of the Party,

(3) It shall be in order for a member to belong to the Women’s Arm and to any other organ of the Party at one and the same time, (4) This Constitution shall be the Supreme Instrument of the Party and effect shall be given to the terms hereof in any case of conflict or in constituency between this Constitution and the Constitution or rules of the Women’s Arm or any other organ of the Party.

Article 20C. CHAPTERS (1) There shall be a Chapters of the Party; (2) The Chapters shall have its own constitution in the keeping with the Principles, objects, and rules of the Party; (3) It shall be in order for a member to belong to the Chapters and to any other organ of the Party at one and the same time; (4) This Constitution shall be the Supreme Instrument of the Party and effect shall be given to the terms hereof in any case of conflict or in consistency between this Constitution and the Constitution or rules of the Chapters or any other organ of the Party.

Article 21. SERVICE OF NOTICES All notices referred to in these rules shall in the case of a notice by the Secretary General be the date such notice is sent out by the Secretary, and in respect of any notice to be received by the Secretary General shall be the date of such receipt by the Secretary General.

Article 22. BINDING NATURE OF CONSTITUTION The provision of this Constitution shall be binding on all party Groups and upon each Party member. No Group shall enter in affiliation with, or lend political support to any other organization except upon approval of the Central Committee signed by the President and the Secretary General.

Article 23. AMENDMENTS The existing constitution and rules of the Party or any part thereof may be amended by resolutions at the Annual Convention upon a two-thirds majority of those present and voting in respect thereof provided that notice in respect of such resolution has been received by the Secretary General two (2) weeks before such Convention.

SIGNED:………………………..

Jeanie Ollivierre Secretary General

…………………………

Hon Arnhim Eustace President