Volcano Relief Fund Act
CHAPTER 6.08
VOLCANO RELIEF FUND ACT
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION
1. Short title
2. Creation of Relief Fund
3. Fund
4. Establishment of the Committee
5. Composition of the Committee
6. Funds and Accounts
7. Funds to be deposited with financial institutions
8. Accounts to be audited
9. Audited report to be submitted to Legislative Assembly
10. Meetings
11. Amendment of Schedule
SCHEDULE: Volcano Relief Committee
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CHAPTER 6.08
VOLCANO RELIEF FUND ACT
(Acts 4 of 1997 and 9 of 2011)
AN ACT TO CREATE A FUND FOR THE RELIEF OF PERSONS AFFECTED BY
VOLCANIC ACTIVITY AND FOR MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH.
Commencement
[5 December 1997]
Short title
1. This Act may be cited as the Volcanic Relief Fund Act.
Creation of Relief Fund
2. There is hereby established a Volcano Relief Fund, hereinafter called “the Fund” for the purpose of assisting persons who have suffered loss from volcanic activity.

Fund
3. There shall be paid into the Fund all financial contributions made by persons and organisations for the purpose of rendering assistance to Montserrat and to persons affected by volcanic activity.
Establishment of the Committee
4. There is hereby established a Volcano Relief Committee, hereinafter called “the Committee” which subject to the provisions of this Act, shall be responsible for administering the Fund.
Composition of the Committee
5. (1) The Committee shall be constituted in accordance with the Schedule.
(2) The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly shall be the Chairman of the Committee. (Amended by Act 9 of 2011)
Funds and Accounts
6. The Committee shall have power to—
(a) make payments out of the Fund in the form of grants or loans on such terms as the Committee thinks fit, for the purpose of rendering assistance to those affected by volcanic activity;
(b) apply the income of the Fund to the establishment or maintenance of any project or scheme for the benefit of persons affected by volcanic activity;
(c) entrust the income of the Fund to such organisations or persons as the Committee thinks appropriate for the purpose of rendering assistance to persons affected by volcanic activity.
Funds to be deposited with financial institutions
7. (1) The income of the Fund shall be deposited with such Banks or other financial institutions as the Committee thinks appropriate.
(2) All payments out of the Fund shall be made by the Chairman on the direction of the Committee.
Accounts to be audited
8. (1) The Committee shall keep proper accounts of the Fund.
(2) The Accounts of the Fund shall be audited every six months by an auditor approved by the Governor acting on the advice of Cabinet. (Amended by Act 9 of 2011)
(3) The auditor approved under subsection (2) shall, not later than two months after the accounts have been submitted for audit send to the

Chairman of the Committee an audited statement of accounts and an auditor’s report in respect of the accounts.
Audited report to be submitted to Legislative Assembly
9. (1) Within fourteen days of receipt of a statement under section 8(3) the Committee shall forward to the Minister of Finance a copy of the audited statement of accounts, the auditor’s report and a report of the activities of the Committee during the period, and shall afford him facility for verifying the information contained in such reports and statements.
(2) The Minister of Finance shall lay the audited statement of accounts, the auditor’s report and the report of the activities of the Committee before the Legislative Assembly within three months of receiving them. (Amended by Act 9 of 2011)
Meetings
10. The Committee shall meet from time to time as it shall be considered appropriate and it shall determine the rules of procedure by which its meetings shall be governed.
Amendment of Schedule
11. The Governor acting on the advice of Cabinet may by Order amend the Schedule. (Amended by Act 9 of 2011)
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SCHEDULE
(Section 5)
VOLCANO RELIEF COMMITTEE
(a) The Minister for Education, Health and Community Services;
(b) An elected member of the Legislative Assembly who is not a member of the Cabinet (member in opposition) appointed by the Speaker of the Legislative
Assembly; (Amended by Act 9 of 2011)
(c) The First Nominated Member;
(d) The Accountant General;
(e) A representative of the Montserrat Christian Council appointed by the Governor acting on the advice of Cabinet;
(f) A representative of the Montserrat Chamber of Commerce and Industry appointed by the Governor acting on the advice of Cabinet;
(g) A representative of the Trade Union Movement appointed by the Governor acting on the advice of Cabinet.
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