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THE BAHAMAS RED CROSS SOCIETY CHAPTER 389

THE BAHAMAS RED CROSS SOCIETY

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS SECTION 1. Short title. 2. Interpretation. 3. Establishment, incorporation and government of Society. 4. Objects of Society. 5. Recognition of Society as independent voluntary aid society. 6. Powers of Council. 7. By laws. 8. Misuse of Red Cross emblems.

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CHAPTER 389

THE BAHAMAS RED CROSS SOCIETY An Act to establish and incorporate The Bahamas Red

Cross Society and for connected purposes. [Commencement 23rd June, 1975]

1. This Act may be cited as The Bahamas Red Cross Society Act.

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires — “Branch” means the association affiliated to the

British Red Cross Society and known as The Bahamas Branch of the British Red Cross Society in existence immediately before the commencement of this Act;

“Conventions” means the four Geneva Conventions of twelfth August, 1949, being conventions — (a) for the amelioration of the wounded and

sick of armed forces in the field; (b) for the amelioration of the wounded, sick

and shipwrecked members of armed forces at sea;

(c) relative to the treatment of prisoners; (d) relative to the protection of civilian persons

in time of war; “Council” means the Council referred to in section

3(3); “Society” means the The Bahamas Red Cross

Society established under section 3(1). 3. (1) There is hereby established a Society,

consisting of associates of the Branch and of all persons who may hereafter become associates of the Society, which shall be known as The Bahamas Red Cross Society and shall be the sole national Red Cross society in The Bahamas.

(2) The Society shall be — (a) a body corporate with perpetual succession and a

seal; and capable of suing and of being sued and, subject to this Act, of doing and suffering all

13 of 1975

Short title.

Interpretation.

Establishment, incorporation and government of Society.

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such acts as a body corporate may lawfully do and suffer.

(3) The Society shall be governed by a Council which shall be constituted in accordance with bylaws made under this Act.

(4) The Council may appoint an executive committee with such powers, functions and duties as may be prescribed by bylaws under this Act.

4. (1) The objects of the Society shall be — (a) in time of war, to furnish aid to the sick and

wounded both of armies and among non- belligerents, and to prisoners of war and civilian sufferers from the effects of war;

(b) to perform all the duties which devolve upon a National Society in accordance with the provisions of the Conventions; and

(c) in time of peace or war to carry on and assist in the work for the improvement of health, the prevention of disease and the mitigation of suffering throughout the world, among all men and all nations.

(2) In pursuing the objects set out in subsection (1), the Society shall not make any adverse distinction founded on sex, race, nationality, religion, faith, political opinion or other similar criteria.

5. (1) The Society is hereby recognised as a voluntary aid society auxiliary to public authorities exercising their obligations under the Conventions.

(2) The independent and voluntary nature of the Society shall at all times be respected in accordance with the resolution relative to National Red Cross Societies adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on nineteenth November, 1946.

6. The Council may — (a) purchase, acquire, hold, manage and dispose of

real and personal property; (b) invest moneys of the Society; (c) borrow or raise moneys upon security or

otherwise; (d) launch appeals to the public for financial or

other support for the society;

Objects of Society.

Recognition of Society as independent voluntary aid society.

Powers of Council.

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(e) accept property by way of grant, gift, testamen- tary disposition or otherwise;

(f) enter into any such contracts as it may consider necessary or expedient;

(g) appoint committees to assist or advise the Council in the exercise of its powers and delegate to such committees such of its powers as it may from time to time determine;

(h) organise classes and lectures and publish and sell or distribute papers, books, pamphlets for the purpose of stimulating interest in and promoting the objects of the Society and of qualifying persons to assist therein;

(i) establish and maintain branches of the Society in The Bahamas;

(j) do all such acts or things as are or may be incidental or conducive to —

(i) the attainment of the Society’s objects; (ii) the management of the Society’s affairs.

7. (1) The Council may make bylaws providing for — (a) membership of the Society and the management

of its affairs; (b) the composition, manner of election or

appointment of members of the Council; (c) the procedure at meetings of the Society and of

the Council; (d) the organisation and functions of branches of the

Society; (e) the appointment and duties of the officers and

employees of the Society; (f) the custody of the property of the Society and

the keeping and auditing of accounts; (g) the use of the emblems or designations referred

to in section 8; (h) the making of appeals to the public for financial

or other support for the Society; and (i) generally, the better carrying into effect of the

purposes of this Act and the furtherance of the objects of the Society.

Bylaws.

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(2) Sections 30 and 31 of the Interpretation Act shall not apply to bylaws made under this section, nor shall the bylaws require publication in the Gazette but a copy of them shall be forwarded to the Minister responsible for National Security.

8. (1) No person other than the Society or a person so authorised under the Conventions shall, without the authority of the Council, use for any purpose whatever any of the following emblems or designations:

(a) the emblem of a red cross with vertical and horizontal arms of the same length on, and completely surrounded by, a white ground, or the designation “Red Cross” or “Geneva Cross”;

(b) the emblem of a red crescent moon on, and completely surrounded by, a white ground, or the designation “Red Crescent”;

(c) the emblem of a red lion and sun on, and completely surrounded by, a white ground, or the designation “Red Lion and Sun”;

(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of two hundred and fifty dollars.

Ch. 2.

Misuse of Red Cross emblems.