CAP. 19, CARIBBEAN INVESTMENT CORPORATION ACT BELIZE
CARIBBEAN INVESTMENT CORPORATION ACT CHAPTER 19
REVISED EDITION 2000 SHOWING THE LAW AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2000
This is a revised edition of the law, prepared by the Law Revision Commissioner under the authority of the Law Revision Act, Chapter 3 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 1980 - 1990.
This edition contains a consolidation of the following laws- Page
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 3
CARIBBEAN INVESTMENT CORPORATION ACT 3 Amendments in force as at 31st December, 2000.
BELIZE
CARIBBEAN INVESTMENT CORPORATION ACT CHAPTER 19
REVISED EDITION 2000 SHOWING THE LAW AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2000
This is a revised edition of the law, prepared by the Law Revision Commissioner under the authority of the Law Revision Act, Chapter 3 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 1980 - 1990.
This edition contains a consolidation of the following laws- Page
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 3
CARIBBEAN INVESTMENT CORPORATION ACT 3 Amendments in force as at 31st December, 2000.
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CHAPTER 19
CARIBBEAN INVESTMENT CORPORATION
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
1. Short title. 2. Interpretation. 3. Acceptance of Agreement. 4. Agreement to have force of law. 5. Financial provisions for giving effect to the Agreement. 6. Certificate of Minister conclusive as to contents. 7. Restriction on use of name. 8. Regulations.
SCHEDULE
CHAPTER 19
CARIBBEAN INVESTMENT CORPORATION
[12th May, 1979]
1. This Act may be cited as the Caribbean Investment Corporation Act.
2.-(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:-
“Agreement” means the Agreement for the establishment of the Caribbean Investment Corporation, set out in the Schedule to this Act;
CAP. 14, R. E. 1980-1990. 16 of 1973. 19 of 1978. Commencement G. N. 495 of 1979.
Short title.
Interpretation.
Schedule.
“Corporation” means the Caribbean Investment Corporation established by the Agreement;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for Finance.
(2) The reference in Article 30 of the Agreement to the effect that the Corporation shall possess full juridical personality shall be construed as mean- ing that the Corporation shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession.
3. Subject to this Act the Corporation as organised and described in the Agreement is hereby established.
4. Subject to this Act, the provisions of Articles 30 to 34 and Article 36 of the Agreement shall have the force of law.
5.-(1) There shall be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund on the warrant of the Minister all payments required to be made from time to time to the Corporation in respect of the membership of Belize under the provisions of the Agreement.
(2) Any sum received by the Government of Belize from the Corporation on account of the subscription of Belize to the capital stock of the Corpora- tion shall be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
6. If in any proceedings a question arises as to the entitlement of the Corporation or any other person to any immunities or privileges under this Act, a certificate issued by or under the authority of the Minister to the effect that the Corporation or other person is or is not entitled thereto shall be con- clusive evidence of the facts stated in the certificate.
7.-(1) Except with the consent of the Minister, no person shall use the name of the Caribbean Investment Corporation or any name so nearly resembling it as to be likely to deceive, in connection with any trade or business.
Acceptance of Agreement.
Agreement to have force of law.
Financial provisions for giving effect to the Agreement.
Certificate of Minister conclusive as to contents.
Restriction on use of name.
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(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for twelve months or to both such fine and imprison- ment.
8. The Minister may make regulations which he considers necessary for giving effect to the provisions of this Act.
Regulations.
SCHEDULE
[Section 2]
Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Investment Corporation
THE CONTRACTING PARTIES
RECOGNIZING the urgent need for a more balanced approach to the distribution of benefits accruing from the Caribbean Free Trade Area;
BEARING IN MIND regional commitments to introduce measures for promoting industrial development and agro-based industries in the Less Developed Countries;
NOTING that the proposals contained in the report of the Industrial Location Task Force for action by the Less Developed Countries in pro- moting their industrial development are acceptable to those countries;
HAVE AGREED as follows-
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT
CHAPTER I
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CORPORATION
ARTICLE 1
The Corporation Established
By this Agreement the Contracting Parties established a Caribbean Investment Corporation (hereinafter referred to as “the Corporation”) having the membership, powers and functions hereinafter specified.
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ARTICLE 2
Membership
1. Membership of the Corporation shall be open to-
(a) the States listed in Part A of the Annex to this Agreement which shall form an integral part thereof;
(b) any other State of the Caribbean Region which becomes a member of the Caribbean Community; and
(c) residents of States that become Members of the Corporation.
2. The States referred to in paragraph 1 (a) of this Article the Govern- ments of which sign this Agreement in accordance with Article 39 shall become Members of the Corporation.
The States mentioned in paragraph 1 (b) of this Article the Governments of which accede to this Agreement in accordance with Article 42 thereof shall become members of the Corporation.
3. Residents of States that are Members of the Corporation may be ad- mitted to membership on such terms and conditions as the Board of Governors may determine.
ARTICLE 3
Functions and Powers
1. The function of the Corporation shall be to ensure the promotion of the industrial development including the development of agro-based indus- tries, tourism and integrated agricultural and industrial complexes of the Less Developed Countries that are members of the Corporation and which-
(a) prior to the 1st May, 1974, have signed the Accord done at Georgetown, Guyana on the 13th day of April, 1973; and
(b) on or after the 1st May, 1974, are members of the Caribbean Common Market.
2. For the purpose of performing this function the Corporation is hereby empowered to-
(a) make equity investments in industrial enterprise in the Less Developed Countries;
(b) dispose of its equity investments within the Region in order to replen- ish its financial resources;
(c) guarantee suppliers’ credits;
(d) administer, manage and account for its financial resources;
(e) provide the technical assistance where necessary for the preparation and analysis of projects to be financed, and do all such other acts that may be necessary or incidental to the achievement of its purposes and the exercise of its functions.
19 of 1978.
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ARTICLE 4
Definitions
1. For the purpose of this Agreement the following expressions shall, unless the context otherwise require, have the meaning herein provided: “More Developed Country” means Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and “Less Developed Country” means any other State listed in Part A of the Annex which is a Member of the Corporation provided that the Board of Governors may from time to time decide to alter any designation as to them may seem fit.
2. “Residents” for the purpose of this agreement means-
(a) a citizen of any State that is a Member of the Corporation; or
(b) a person who has a connection with such a State of any kind which entitles him to be regarded as belonging to, or, if it be so expressed, as being a native or resident of the State for the purposes of such laws thereof relating to immigration as are for the time being in force; or
(c) a company or other legal entity which in the opinion of the Board of Governors carries on business in a State that is a member of the Corporation provided that such Company or other legal entity has a registered office and carries on substantial activity within such a State.
CHAPTER II
CAPITAL, CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESOURCES
ARTICLE 5
Authorised Capital
1. The authorised capital stock of the Corporation shall be the equiva- lent of fifteen million Eastern Caribbean dollars of the weight and fineness of gold in effect on 1st May, 1973. The authorised capital stock shall be divided into one hundred and fifty thousand shares with a par value of one hundred dollars each, and shall be available for subscription by members in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of this Agreement.
2. The authorised capital stock may be increased by the Board of Governors at such time and on such terms and conditions as it may deter- mine by a vote of not less than fourteen Governors.
ARTICLE 6
Issue and Subscription of Shares
1. Each member shall subscribe to shares of the capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Part A of the Annex. Within one month of the entry into force of this Agreement the Corporation shall make an initial issue of shares of the aggregate value of EC$5 million which shall be sub- scribed in the manner set out in paragraph 2 of this Article.
2. The initial issue of shares shall be subscribed by the Members of the Corporation in the proportions given in Part B of the Annex and shall be paid for as specified in Article 7 of this Agreement.
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3. Upon any subsequent issue of shares up to the amount of the capital stock specified in paragraph 1 of Article 5 of this Agreement each State which is a member shall subscribe in the proportions specified in Part A of the Annex on such terms and conditions as the Board of Governors may determine, such a number of shares as bears the same ratio to the issue as the shares held by it bear to the total issued stock of the Corporation immedi- ately before such issue.
4. Shares initially subscribed by members during the first five years of the establishment of the Corporation shall be issued at par. Other shares shall be issued at such value as the Board of Governors may decide.
5. Liability of the members shall be limited to the unpaid portion of their issue price.
6. Except as provided in paragraph 5 of this Article, no member shall be liable, by reason only of its membership for obligations of the Corpora- tion.
ARTICLE 7
Payment for Initial Issue of Shares
Shares subscribed in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 6 of this Agreement shall be paid for in five equal instalments. The first instalment shall be paid on allotment and thereafter one instalment shall be paid in each of the next four succeeding years.
ARTICLE 8
Transfer of Shares and Related Matters
1. Subject to such conditions as the Board of Governors may impose
any member referred to in paragraph 1 (c) of Article 2 of this Agreement may transfer all or any of its shares.
2. The Board of Governors may decline to register the transfer of a share to a person of whom it does not approve, and it may also decline to register the transfer of a share on which the Corporation has a lien.
3. No member of the Corporation referred to in paragraph 1 (a) and (b) of Article 2 of this Agreement shall transfer its shares in the Corporation.
ARTICLE 9
Financial Resources
The resources of the Corporation shall consist of-
(a) the authorised capital stock of the Corporation subscribed pursuant to Article 6;
(b) funds borrowed by the Corporation;
(c) funds received in repayment of loans or from guarantees or from the sale of securities acquired by it;
(d) any other funds or income received by the Corporation.
ARTICLE 10
Use of Financial Resources
The financial resources of the Corporation shall be used exclusively to further the purpose for which it is established and to carry out its functions in accordance with this Agreement.
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CHAPTER III
OPERATING PRINCIPLES
ARTICLE 11
1. In the performance of its functions the Corporation shall invest in projects which are financially viable, due regard being paid to two other important crite- ria-
(a) the ability of the projects in which it invests to promote further industrial and economic development in the economy of the Less Developed Country concerned; and
(b) the creation of employment opportunities in the Less Developed Country concerned.
2. In financing industrial development projects, the Corporation shall, as far as practicable, associate with the Local capital of the Less Developed Coun- tries of the Region and, with joint ventures of the Less Developed Countries and the More Developed Countries.
3. In the disposal of its equity investment, the Corporation shall, as far as practicable, seek to make available such equity to individuals and bodies in the Less Developed Countries in order to increase their participation in industries located in their territories.
CHAPTER IV
POWERS AND MANAGEMENT
ARTICLE 12
Borrowing and other Specific powers
In addition to any other powers conferred on the Corporation by this Agree- ment for the purpose of exercising its functions the Corporation shall have power to-
(a) borrow money (whether by way of debentures or otherwise) for the purpose for which it is established;
(b) advance money by way of loans on such terms and conditions as it thinks necessary;
(c) invest or deposit in any State that is a member of the Corporation any of its resources not needed in its operations.
ARTICLE 13
Management
The Corporation shall have a Board of Governors, a Board of Directors and such staff as is necessary for the exercise of its functions.
ARTICLE 14
Composition of Board of Governors
1. The Board of Governors shall consist of the following persons-
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(a) a Minister of Government appointed as a Governor by each of the Member States;
(b) four governors representing residents who are members of the Corporation and who shall be appointed by the Carib- bean Association of Industry and Commerce provided that two of them shall be selected from the Less Developed Countries who are members of the Corporation.
2. Each governor shall have an alternate who shall be appointed in like manner as the governor.
3. Each governor and each alternate may be appointed for a period not exceeding three years but may be reappointed. Each governor and each alternate shall serve at the pleasure of the body appointing them. Each governor or his alternate shall have one vote at meetings of the Board of Governors.
4. The Chairman of the Board shall be elected from among the gover- nors selected from the Less Developed Countries. He shall hold office for a term of one year and shall be eligible for re-election. The Chairman shall have both an original and a casting vote.
5. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Governors but in the event of his absence or his inability to preside, the governors present and constituting a quorum shall elect from among themselves a governor selected from the Less Developed Countries to preside at that meeting.
6. Governors and alternates shall serve as such without remuneration from the Corporation, but the Corporation may pay them for reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings.
ARTICLE 15
Powers of Board of Governors
1. All the functions and powers of the Corporation, except the power to make equity investments, guarantee loans and advance money by way of loans and appoint staff of the Corporation, shall be vested in the Board of Governors.
2. The Board of Governors may delegate to the Board of Directors all or any of its powers, except the power to-
(a) admit new members referred to in paragraph 1 (b) of Article 2 of this Agreement and determine the terms and conditions of their admission;
(b) increase the authorised capital stock of the Corporation;
(c) suspend a member;
(d) subject to paragraph 3 Article 6 of this Agreement, determine the period over which and the manner in which additional issues of the authorised capital shall be made;
(e) take decisions for the amendment of this Agreement;
(f) decide to terminate the operations of the Corporation and to determine its assets;
(g) determine the remuneration of the directors and their alternates;
(h) determine the reserves and the distribution of the net profits of the Corporation;
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(i) approve the statement of accounts of the Corporation after reviewing the report of the Board of Directors;
(j) exercise any other powers that are expressly assigned to the Board of Governors in this Agreement.
3. The Board of Governors shall retain full power to exercise authority over any matter delegated to the Board of Directors under paragraph 2 and may give general policy directions on any matter within the competence of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE 16
Procedure of Board of Governors
1. The Board of Governors shall hold an annual meeting and such other meetings as may be called by the Chairman or by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall call a meeting of the Board of Governors whenever requested by a majority of the members of the Corporation.
2. The quorum for any meeting of the Board of Governors shall not be less than ten governors of whom-
(a) at least two of the governors are representatives of the More Devel- oped Countries;
(b) at least two of the governors are representatives of the members admitted to membership under paragraph 1 (c) of Article 2 of this Agreement; and
(c) at least four of the governors are representatives of the Less Devel- oped Countries.
3. The Board of Governors may by regulation establish a procedure
whereby the Board of Directors may, when the latter considers it advisable, obtain a vote of the governors on a specific question without calling a meeting of the Board of Governors.
4. The Board of Governors may-
(a) establish such subsidiary bodies as it may consider necessary in the exercise of its powers under this Agreement;
(b) regulate the procedure to be adopted in the conduct of its meet- ings;
(c) make regulations for conducting the affairs of the Corporation.
ARTICLE 17
Composition of Board of Directors
1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the following persons-
(a) a representative appointed by each of the governments of the More Developed Countries;
(b) two representatives of the Less Developed Countries appointed by the governments thereof; and
(c) four representatives who are residents admitted to membership under paragraph 1 (c) of Article 2 of this Agreement appointed by the Car- ibbean Association of Industry and Commerce, provided that two of them shall be selected from the Less Developed Countries.
2. (a) Subject to subparagraph (b) and (c) of this paragraph a director shall hold office for a term of three years and shall be eligible for re-ap- pointment; he shall continue in office until his successor has assumed
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office.
(b) If the office of a director becomes vacant before the expiration of his term of office, a new director shall be appointed to fill the vacancy and shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of office of his predecessor.
(c) The appointment of a director may at any time be revoked by the au- thority responsible for such appointment under paragraph 1 of this Ar- ticle.
3. Each director shall have an alternate who shall, in the case of the director appointed under paragraph 1 (a) or (b) of this Article be appointed in like manner as the director and, in the case of a director appointed under para- graph 1 (c) of this Article be appointed by the director.
4. The alternate to a director selected from the Less Developed Coun- tries under paragraph 1 (c) hereof shall also be from the Less Developed Coun- tries.
ARTICLE 18
Disqualification of Directors
1. No person shall be eligible to be a director who is-
(a) a member of the Board of Governors; or
(b) a member of the Legislature of any of the States which are mem- bers of the Corporation; or
(c) an employee of the Corporation.
2. The office of a director appointed under paragraph 1 (c) of Article
17 of this Agreement shall be deemed to be vacated if the director-
(a) assumes any of the offices mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article;
(b) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally;
(c) becomes of unsound mind;
(d) resigns his office by notice in writing to the Corporation;
(e) is no longer a member of the Corporation.
In any such case, the provisions of paragraph 2 (b) of Article 17 shall apply.
ARTICLE 19
Chairman of Board of Directors
1. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall be selected by the Board from among its members and shall be one of the directors appointed from the Less Developed Countries.
2. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Direc- tors, but in the event of his absence or his inability to preside, the directors present and forming a quorum shall select from among themselves a director appointed from any of the Less Developed Countries to preside at that meeting.
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ARTICLE 20
Functions of Board of Directors
Subject to the general policy directions of the Board of Governors, the Board of Directors shall be responsible for the direction of the operations of the Corporation and for this purpose, shall, in addition to the powers expressly assigned to it in this Agreement and those powers delegated to it by the Board of Governors, have the final authority to-
(a) prepare the work of the Board of Governors;
(b) take decisions relating to investments in equity capital, borrowing by the Corporation, guarantee and technical assistance;
(c) submit to the Board of Governors at each annual meeting the ac- counts for each financial year;
(d) approve the budget of the Corporation;
(e) advance money by way of loans; and
(f) appoint such staff as may be necessary for the purposes of carrying out this Agreement.
ARTICLE 21
Procedure of Board of Directors
1. The Board of Directors shall meet at least four times in each year and at such times and places as may be necessary for the efficient perfor- mance of its functions.
2. A special meeting may be called by the Board of Directors at any time at the written request of the majority of the total membership of the Board of Directors.
3. The Board may regulate the procedure to be adopted in the conduct of its meetings.
4. A Director or his alternate shall during deliberations on any matter in which he has a pecuniary interest either directly or indirectly declare such interest.
5. Six members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum:
Provided that three members of the quorum shall be respectively-
(a) a representative of a More Developed Country;
(b) a representative of a Less Developed Country; and
(c) a representative of the members admitted to membership under paragraph 1 (c) of Article 2 of this Agreement.
6. Each member of the Board of Directors shall have one vote. The Chairman shall have a casting vote.
7. All acts done by any meeting of the directors or of a committee of directors or by any person acting as a director shall, notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any such director or person acting as aforesaid, or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and was qualified to be a director.
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CHAPTER V
OFFICE AND REPORTS
ARTICLE 22
Office
1. The principal office of the Corporation shall be located in the terri- tory of such Less Developed Country as the Board of Governors may determine. The Corporation may, however, establish branch offices in any other part of the Region.
2. The Corporation shall keep at its principal office such registers as are required by the laws of the State in which it is located.
ARTICLE 23
Seal
1. The Corporation shall have an official seal.
2. The directors shall provide for the safe custody of the seal which shall only be used by the authority of the directors and any instrument to which the seal is affixed shall be signed by a director and countersigned by the Secretary of the Corporation or by some other duly authorised person.
ARTICLE 24
Reports
1. The Board of Directors shall transmit to the Board of Governors an annual report of its operations together with an audited statement of its ac- counts.
2. The accounts of the Corporation shall be audited by independent au- ditors to be selected by the Board of Governors.
CHAPTER VI
ALLOCATION OF NET INCOME
ARTICLE 25
Allocation of Net Income
1. The Board of Governors shall, on the recommendation of the Board of Directors, determine at least annually the disposition of the net income of the Corporation resulting from its operations and what portion thereof, if any, shall be allocated after making provision for reserves or other pur- poses, to surplus, and what portion, if any, shall be reinvested or distributed among members of the Corporation.
2. Any distribution of net income under paragraph 1 shall be made to each member in such manner and currency as the Board of Governors may determine.
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CHAPTER VII
SUSPENSION AND WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERSHIP
ARTICLE 26
Suspension of Membership
1. The Board of Governors may by a vote of not less than fourteen governors suspend from membership for a period not exceeding one year, any member who fails or refuses to fulfill any of its obligations or discharge any of its liabilities under this Agreement. The member concerned shall not be entitled to exercise a vote in this connection.
2. A suspended member shall not be entitled to exercise any rights under this Agreement, except the right to withdraw its membership, but shall be subject to all its obligations and liabilities.
3. A suspended member shall automatically cease to be a member of the Corporation if, at the expiration of the period of suspension, the member has failed or refused to fulfill any obligation or discharge any liability in respect of which the member was suspended.
4. Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraphs of this Article a sus- pended member may before the expiration of the period of suspension be allowed to exercise any rights under this Agreement if the Board of Gover- nors so decides.
5. The Board of Governors shall determine the disposition of the shares of any member who ceases to be a member of the Corporation by the operation of paragraph 3 of this Article.
6. The provisions of this Article shall not apply to members mentioned in paragraph 1 (c) of Article 2 of this Agreement.
CHAPTER VIII
TERMINATION OF OPERATIONS, LIABILITY OF
MEMBERS, DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS
ARTICLE 27
Suspension and Termination of Operations
1. In an emergency, the Board of Directors may temporarily suspend operations in respect of new loans and guarantees, pending an opportunity for further consideration and action by the Board of Governors.
2. The Corporation may terminate its operations by a resolution of the Board of Governors approved by a vote of not less than fourteen governors and after such termination the Corporation shall cease to exercise all func- tions and powers except those that are necessary or incidental to the realisation and preservation of its assets and the fulfillment of its outstanding obligations.
ARTICLE 28
Liability of Members on Termination
In the event that the Corporation terminates its operations, the liability of all members for uncalled subscriptions to the authorised capital stock of the Corporation shall continue until all claims of creditors have been discharged.
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ARTICLE 29
Distribution of Assets on Termination
1. In the event that the Corporation terminates its operations, there shall be no distribution of assets among members until-
(a) all claims of creditors have been discharged, and if necessary on a pro rata distribution among them;
(b) members have fulfilled all their obligations to the Corporation; and
(c) the Board of Governors has made an evaluation of the assets to be distributed among members.
2. Any distribution of the assets of the Corporation to the members shall be in proportion to the contribution of the member to the issue of the authorised capital stock of the Corporation and shall be effected at such times and under such conditions as the Board of Governors deems fair and equitable.
CHAPTER IX
STATUS, IMMUNITIES, EXEMPTIONS AND PRIVILEGES
ARTICLE 30
Legal Status
1. The Corporation shall possess full juridical personality and, in par- ticular, full capacity to-
(a) enter into agreement;
(b) acquire and dispose of property, whether movable or immovable; and
(c) institute legal proceedings.
ARTICLE 31
Legal Proceedings
1. Legal proceedings may be instituted against the Corporation in any court of competent jurisdiction in the Territory of a State which is a member of the Corporation where-
(a) the cause of action arose; or
(b) the Corporation has its principal office or a branch office.
In any other case such proceedings may be instituted against the Corpora- tion in any such court in the country where it has appointed an agent for the purpose of accepting service or notice of process.
2. Service upon the Corporation of any document shall be effected by delivering or sending it by registered post to its principal office or any branch office.
ARTICLE 32
Freedom of Assets from Restrictions
To the extent necessary to carry out its purpose and functions effectively and
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subject to the provisions of this Agreement the Corporation-
(a) may hold assets of any kind and operate accounts in any currency; and
(b) shall be free to transfer its assets from one country to another or within any country and to convert any currency held by it into any other cur- rency, without being restricted by financial controls, regulations or mora- toria of any kind.
ARTICLE 33
Immunities and Privileges of Personnel
1. The Governors, Directors, alternates, officials and staff of, and experts performing missions for, the Corporation shall be immune from legal process with respect to acts done by them in their official capacity.
2. Persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article who are not nationals shall-
(a) enjoy immunity from national service obligations;
(b) have the right to repatriate funds derived from income earned in the service of the Corporation;
(c) be immune, together with their families forming part of their house- hold, from immigration restrictions, and alien registration;
(d) be given, together with their families forming part of their household, the same repatriation facilities and right to protection as are accorded to members of diplomatic missions in time of international crisis.
ARTICLE 34
Exemptions
1. The Corporation, its assets and operations and transactions, shall be exempt from all direct taxation and no customs duties nor charge of equivalent effect shall be paid on articles imported for its official use.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article, the Corporation shall not be entitled to exemption from taxes which are no more than charges for public utility services.
3. Subject to paragraph 4 hereof, dividends and other distributions made by the Corporation or a distribution of such dividends or distributions made by a recipient thereof shall be exempt from income tax in the hands of a recipient.
4. Where the recipient is not resident in any Member State the exemp- tion in paragraph 3 shall apply to so much only of the tax as exceeds his tax liability on such dividends or other distributions in his country of residence.
ARTICLE 35
Implementation
Each member, referred to in paragraph 1 (a) and 1 (b) of Article 2 of this Agreement shall inform the Corporation of the action taken to implement the provisions of this Chapter in its territory.
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ARTICLE 36
Waiver of Immunities, Exemptions and Privileges
Except as provided for in paragraph 2 of Article 34 of this Agreement, the chief executive officer of the Corporation (by whatever name called) shall have the right and the duty to waive any immunity, exemption or privilege in respect of any other member of the staff of the Corporation, or any expert performing a mission for the Corporation where, in his opinion, the immunity, exemption or privilege would impede the course of justice and can be waived without prejudice to the interests of the Corporation. In similar circum- stances and under the same conditions, the Board of Directors shall have the right and duty to waive any immunity, exemption or privileges respecting the chief executive officer.
CHAPTER X
AMENDMENT AND ARBITRATION
ARTICLE 37
Amendments
1. This Agreement may be amended by the Contracting Parties upon a decision for the purpose of the Board of Governors by a vote of not less than fourteen of the governors.
2. Any proposal to amend this Agreement shall be addressed to the Chairman of the Board of Governors who shall submit a copy of the pro- posed amendment to each member prior to its being submitted to the Board. If the amendment is adopted, the Corporation shall certify it in a formal communication addressed to each member.
3. The Contracting Parties shall notify the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Caribbean Regional Secretariat (hereinafter referred to as the “Secretary-General”) in writing of their acceptance of the amendment. The amendment shall become effective at the expiration of three (3) months after the date of a formal communication by the Secretary-General to all members of the Corporation notifying acceptance of the amendment by the Contracting Parties.
ARTICLE 38
Arbitration
1. If a dispute arises-
(a) between the Corporation and a member who ceases to be a member;
(b) between the Corporation and a member consequent upon the adoption of a resolution to terminate the operations of the Corpora- tion,
such dispute shall, at the written request of either party, be submitted to arbi- tration by a tribunal consisting of three arbitrators.
2. Each party to the dispute shall appoint an arbitrator and the third, who shall be the president of the tribunal, shall be appointed by the two arbitrators previously appointed.
3. If within thirty days of the request for arbitration, either party fails to appoint an arbitrator, or, if within fifteen days of the appointment of the two arbitrators, the president has not been appointed, either party may request the Secretary-General to appoint an arbitrator.
4. The arbitrator shall determine the procedure to be adopted in arbitra-
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tion disputes; however, the president shall be empowered to settle all questions of procedure in any case of disagreement with respect thereto.
CHAPTER XI
SIGNATURE, DEPOSIT AND ENTRY INTO FORCE
ARTICLE 39
Signature and Deposit
1. This Agreement shall be deposited with the Secretary-General and shall remain open for signature by the States listed in Part A of the Annex.
ARTICLE 40
Reservations
Any State referred to in paragraph l (a) or l (b) of Article 2 of this Agree- ment may upon signature enter a reservation to paragraph 1 of Article 34 of this Agreement in relation to a civil action arising out of an accident caused by a motor vehicle used by any of the persons mentioned therein in the performance of any duties relating to the Corporation.
ARTICLE 41
Entry into Force
This Agreement shall enter into force upon the signature of any ten of the States listed in Part A of the Annex.
ARTICLE 42
Accession
After the entry into force of this Agreement any other of the States listed in paragraph 1 (a) or 1 (b) of Article 2 of this Agreement may become Parties to this Agreement by notifying the Secretary-General in writing of their intention to be bound thereby. Such notification shall take effect from the date of its receipt by the Secretary-General.
ARTICLE 43
Inaugural Meeting
As soon as this Agreement enters into force, the Governors representing the States listed in Part A of the Annex who are parties hereto shall be appointed and the Secretary-General shall summon the inaugural meeting of the Board of Governors.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments have signed the present Agreement.
Done at Georgetown, Guyana. Signed by
For ANTIGUA on
Signed by For BARBADOS on
Signed by For BELIZE on
,
Signed by For DOMINICA on
Signed by For GRENADA on
Signed by For GUYANA on
Signed by For JAMAICA on
Signed by For MONTSERRAT on
Signed by For ST. KITTS-NEVIS-ANGUILLA on
Signed by For ST. LUCIA on
Signed by For ST. VINCENT on
Signed by For TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO on
Annex
PART A
States and Territories and other Number of Shares Proportions Members of the Corporation
Jamaica .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33,750 .225 Trinidad and Tobago .. .. .. .. 33,750 .225 Guyana .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,750 .045 Barbados .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,750 .045 Antigua Belize Dominica Grenada .. .. 9,000 .060 Montserrat St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla St. Lucia St. Vincent Members admitted to membership under paragraph 1 (c) of Article 2 60,000 .400
________ ______
TOTAL 150,000 1.000 ________ ______
}
,
PART B
States and Territories and other Members Number of Shares of the Corporation
Jamaica .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11,250 Trinidad and Tobago .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11,250 Guyana .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,250 Barbados .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,250 Antigua Belize Dominica Grenada . .. .. .. .. .. 3,000 Montserrat St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla St. Lucia St. Vincent Members admitted to membership under paragraph 1 (c) of Article 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. 20,000
_______
TOTAL 50,000 ________
_____________
}
