Constitution of The Caribbean Academy of Sciences

2007 Message from the President  A brief history of CAS   CAS publicity    CAS ejournal         { CAS email  CAS calendar }

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of the Academy shall be The Caribbean Academy of Sciences, hereafter called CAS.

ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVES

CAS shall be a non-profit, non-political, and non-governmental body which shall not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, gender or religious persuasion and whose objectives shall be:

1. To provide a forum for the consideration of ideas and issues related to science and technology.
   
2. To serve as a source of advice to governments and non-governmental organizations on scientific and technological matters.
   
3. To facilitate cooperation in scientific and technological research with special reference to the Caribbean region.
   
4. To recognize outstanding performance or achievement in science and technology.
   
5. To undertake or facilitate the publication and collation of the results of scientific research.
   
6. To promote public awareness and appreciation of the importance and potential of science and technology in the Caribbean region.
   
7. To promote ethical conduct in all matters relating to science and technology.
   
8. To maintain contact with similar bodies abroad.
   
9. To do all such other things which the Council may deem necessary to fulfil its objectives.
   

ARTICLE III - STRUCTURE

1. The Academy shall consist of a Council, an Executive Committee, Chapters and the Membership.
   
2. The Executive Committee will comprise the President, who shall be a Fellow, the Foreign Secretary, who is the Immediate Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Officer and the Chairpersons of each Chapter. If the Immediate Past President declines to serve as Foreign Secretary, the position will be filled in accordance with Article V. The candidate for this post must be a Fellow.
   
3. The Council will comprise the Executive Committee, one member nominated by each Chapter and one Ordinary Member elected at the General Meeting
   
4. Chapters may be formed in regional territories by application of Members to the Council. Council shall, from time to time, determine what minimum number of Members shall comprise a Chapter and accordingly shall have full power to merge, sub-divide, dissolve and modify Chapters. Chapters shall be subject to the rules and bye-laws of the Academy.
   

ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP

The membership shall comprise the following categories: Ordinary Member, Associate Member, Junior Member, Fellow, Honorary Fellow and Honorary Member.

IV. 1 - ORDINARY MEMBERS

1. Any citizen or resident of the Caribbean region who has produced and published scientific work of a high standard is eligible to be an Ordinary Member.
   
2. Nomination to membership shall be in writing to the Secretary at least four weeks before the General Meeting Each nomination shall be signed by two persons who are either Ordinary members or fellows of CAS in good financial standing and must be accompanied by a curriculum vitae of the nominee.
   
3. The Secretary shall forward the nominations to the Membership Committee which shall forward recommendations to the General Meeting.
   
4. The General Meeting shall vote on the nominations. Election to membership shall require a simple majority of the members present.
   

IV. II -ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

1. (a) Any citizen or resident of the Caribbean region who is not otherwise qualified for Ordinary Membership but whose work is deemed valuable to the purposes of CAS is eligible to be an Associate Member.
   (b) Any non-citizen or non-resident of the Caribbean region, who has produced and published scientific work of a high standard shall be eligible for election as an Associate Member.
   
   (c) Any institution or body duly constituted in the Caribbean region and whose work is deemed valuable to the purposes of the Academy shall be eligible for election as an Associate Member and shall be entitled to send a representative to the General Meeting.
   
2. Nomination and election of Associate Members to the Academy will conform to the same rules as those established for Ordinary Members. In the case of an application under IV. II 1(c) the institution or body will be required to submit its aims, objectives and constitution.
   
3. Associate Members shall have no voting rights.
   

IV. III - JUNIOR MEMBERS

1. Any citizen or resident of the Caribbean region whose activities are deserving of association with the work of CAS is eligible to be a. Junior Member.
   
2. Nomination and election of Junior Members to CAS will conform to the same rules as those established for Ordinary Members.
   
3. Junior Members shall have no voting rights.
   

IV. IV - FELLOWS

1. Any citizen or resident of the Caribbean region who has made a significant contribution to the field of science and technology is eligible to become a Fellow.
   
2. Nomination to Fellowship shall be in writing to the Secretary by September 30 of each calendar year. A nomination shall be signed by two persons being either Ordinary Members or Fellows of the Academy in good financial standing and must be accompanied by a curriculum vitae.
   
3. The Secretary shall forward the nominations by October 15, to the Fellowship Committee.
   
4. The Fellowship Committee shall consider the nominations received and come to a decision which shall be final.
   
5. The President will inform the relevant parties of the decision of the Fellowship Committee and within one month of the decision and will announce at the General Meeting the names of new admission to Fellowship. The term of new Fellows will commence at the General Meeting.
   
6. No more than two Fellows may be admitted at any General Meeting.
   
7. Fellows shall have full voting rights.
   

IV. V -HONORARY FELLOWS

1. Any person whose merit is internationally recognized and who has made a significant contribution to the progress of science and technology or to human welfare is eligible to be an Honorary Fellow.
   
2. Election of Honorary Fellows shall be determined by Council.
   
3. Honorary Fellows shall have no voting rights.
   

IV. VI -HONORARY MEMBERS

1. Any citizen or resident of the Caribbean region who has produced and published scientific work of a high standard is eligible to be an Honorary Member.
   
2. Election of Honorary Members shall be determined by Council.
   
3. Honorary Members shall have no voting rights.
   

ARTICLE V - ELECTION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1. Where a vacant post in the Executive Committee exists or will exist in the current calendar year due to the expiration of term, resignation, abandonment or removal from office or howsoever such post may be vacated, the Chairperson of the Election Committee will invite nominations from Ordinary Members and Fellows in good financial standing ("voting members") at least four months prior to the start of the next General Meeting.
   
2. The return date for nominations will be set by the Election Committee and marked on all nomination ballots distributed. This date must not extend beyond a day which is less than two months prior to the start of the next General Meeting.
   
3. A voting member may nominate one person who is an Ordinary Member or Fellow in good financial standing for each position for which nominations are invited by having each such nomination seconded by a voting member and returning the completed nomination ballot to the Election Committee by the return date.
   
4. A list of candidates for each vacant post ("the election ballot") shall be compiled by the Election Committee from the nominations returned as in clause 3 above and distributed to all voting members at least six weeks prior to the start of the General Meeting.
   
5. A voting member will cast their vote by indicating their candidate of choice for each post from among the candidates listed on the election ballot and returning the said ballot to the Election Committee at least two weeks prior to the start of the General Meeting.
   
6. Election ballots shall be opened and counted by the Chairperson of the Election Committee or his nominee at the General Meeting and the results announced.
   
7. 7. If there is no nomination for any Executive position, the incumbent will remain in office and the election process repeated in 6 months. In this case the ballot will be opened in the presence of the Executive Committee.
8. The Executive will be elected biennially. Any member of the Executive shall not hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms. A person who is Immediate Past President shall not be re-elected to the Executive Committee before a period of two terms.

ARTICLE VI - COMMITTEES

1. The Executive shall appoint Committees as deemed necessary to assist in the functioning of CAS.
   
2. There shall be a Membership Committee comprising five members elected by Council with the President or his nominee as Chair. The term of office shall be at the discretion of Council.
   
3. There shall be a Fellowship Committee comprising five Fellows nominated by the President and five Ordinary Members elected at the General Meeting. The President shall chair this Committee. The term of office shall be at the discretion of the Council.
   
4. There shall be an Election Committee set up by Council comprising three persons who may or may not be members of CAS. Council will name the Chairperson and specify its term of office.
   

ARTICLE VII - DUTIES OF MEMBERS AND POWERS OF COUNCIL AND THE EXECUTIVE

1. Council shall be the highest policy-making authority of CAS and as such its responsibilities shall include, inter alia, (a) Duties specified in relevant Articles above
   
2. (b) Approving the Strategic and Work Plan
   
3. (c) All such lawful things as may be conducive to fulfilling the mission of CAS and promoting and carrying out its objectives
   
4. The Executive is charged with the responsibility of implementing the decisions of the Council.
   
5. The President shall preside at all meetings of CAS. In his/her absence, the Immediate Past President shall preside.
   
6. The Secretary shall be the custodian of the records and papers of CAS, shall keep a record of the proceedings of CAS and make a report in writing on the year's activity.
   
7. The Treasurer shall receive dues of the members, administer all funds which must be lodged in an approved financial institution, keep a record of the receipts and expenditure of CAS and present a financial statement at the General Meeting of CAS.
8. The Foreign Secretary shall be concerned with international relations and shall work towards the promotion of better relations between CAS and other similar organizations regionally and internationally.
   
9. The PRO shall be concerned with public relations and relations with the media and shall work towards the promotion of better understanding between CAS and the communities of the region.

ARTICLE VIII - MEETINGS

CAS shall hold a meeting to be known as the General Meeting of CAS each year and shall give six months notice of the Meeting. This Meeting shall be announced by a first circular at least six months in advance. A final announcement of the meeting shall be sent out at a suitable time prior to the meeting. The programme and the place and date of the meeting shall be determined by the Executive.

1. The General Meeting of CAS shall normally rotate among member territories of the region.
   
2. Special Meetings of CAS may be called by The President or a simple majority of Council.
   
3. At General Meetings of CAS, twenty percent of voting members shall constitute a quorum.
   

ARTICLE IX -DUES

The dues of Members shall be set by Council. There shall be a registration fee and an Fee. Fees are payable by April 2.

ARTICLE X - LEGAL RESIDENCE

CAS shall be legally resident in Trinidad and Tobago.

ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS

Any proposed amendment to the Constitution will be discussed at the General Meeting. Thereafter, the text of the amendment will be circulated by the Chairperson of the Election Committee to all voting members of CAS who will be asked to signify their approval of disapproval in an accompanying ballot.
The Constitution may be amended by 75% of the members voting `yes'. If the response is less than 75%, then it may be mended by 75% of the Membership in good standing at a General Meeting of not less than 20 members.