Equipo Nizkor - The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Red Cross Society Incorporation Act 1984.

ACT NO. 13 OF 1984

I ASSENT

[L.S.] SYDNEY D. GUN MUNRO
Governor-General.

17th May, 1984

AN ACT to provide for the incorporation of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Red Cross Society and for matters incidental thereto and connected therewith.

[ 4th July, 1984. ]

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Red Cross Society Incorporation Act 1984.

Interpretation.

2. In this Act:–

(a) "Branch" means the St. Vincent Branch of the British Red Cross Society which was in existence in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as a voluntary organization immediately before the commencement of this Act.

(b) "Central Committee" means the Central Committee of the Society;

"Constitution" means the Constitution of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Red Cross Society;

(d) "Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols" means the Conventions as acceded to by a Declaration of Continuity March 1981 and the two Protocols additional to the said Conventions, acceded to on 18th November, 1982.

(e) "Government" means the Government of the State of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;

(f) "Rules" means rules made by the Central Committee ;

(g) "Society" means the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Red Cross Society.

Establishment of Society.

3. On the commencement of this Act:–

(a) there shall be established and constituted the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Red Cross Society which shall be the sole national Red Cross Society in the State of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;

(b) all the assets and liabilities of the Branch shall be transferred to and be vested in the Society by virtue of this section and without further assurance, and the Society shall have all the powers necessary to take possession of, recover and deal with such assets and discharge such liabilities;

(c) all deeds, bonds, instruments and contracts subsisting immediately before the day on which this Act comes into operation to which the Branch is a party shall be of as full force and effect against or in favour of the Society and enforceable as fully and effectually as if instead of the Branch, the Society had been a party thereto.

(d) Officers of the Branch shall, continue to hold corresponding appointments in the society until the constitution comes into force, and members of the Branch shall become corresponding Youth members, Adult, members, Subscribing Members and Honorary members of the Society; but subject to any provisions contained in the Constitution.

4. The Society shall be a body corporate under the name of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Red Cross Society, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to sue and be sued; purchase, acquire, hold, manage and dispose of movable and immovable property and to enter into any such contracts as it may consider necessary or expedient for the purpose of performing its functions or achieving its objects under this Act.

Objects of Society.

5. (1) The objects of the Society shall be:–

(a) in times of armed conflict and in times of peace, to act in all fields covered by the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols on behalf of all persons, both military and civilian, suffering from the effects of armed conflict ;

(b) in times of peace to make preparations for the carrying out of its functions in the event of armed conflict;

(c) to organize emergency relief to victims of disasters, howsoever caused, where possible in accordance with a national plan;

(d) to contribute to the improvement of health, the prevention of disease and the mitigation of suffering by programmes of training and services for the benefit of the community, adapted to national and local needs and circumstances ;

(e) to inspire children and young people with the ideals of the Youth Red Cross, namely health, service and international friendship; and to form Youth Groups wherever possible;

(f) to interest and instruct the public in the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and of International Humanitarian Law;

(g) to recruit, and train such personnel as are necessary for the performance of its objects.

(2) For the purpose of achieving the objects set out in this section, the Society shall have power to do or cause to be done, either by itself or through its agent or agents, all or any of the acts specified therein, either absolutely or conditionally and either solely or jointly with others.

(3) In the exercise of its power in terms of this Act, the Society and its agent or agents shall not discriminate adversely on the ground of sex, race, colour, class, nationality, place of origin, religion or faith, political, or any other opinions or creed, and shall act in accordance with the spirit, and Principles of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.

Recognition as a voluntary aid Society.

6. The Society is hereby recognized by the Government as a voluntary aid society, auxiliary to the public authorities and acting for the benefit of the civilian population in accordance with the purposes of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.

Independence of Society.

The independent and voluntary nature of the Society shall at all times be respected in accordance with the resolution relating to National Red Cross Societies adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the 19th November, 1946.

Use of the Red Cross emblem.

8. The Society shall have the right to use, in conformity with the Geneva Conventions –

(a) the heraldic emblem of a red cross on a white background, formed, by reversing the Swiss colours;

(b) the words "Red Cross" and "Geneva Cross".

Prevention of abuse of Emblem.

9. No person, other than a person so authorised under the Geneva Conventions, shall use for any purpose whatsoever -

(a) the emblem or words specified in the preceding section 8;

(b) any design or wording so nearly resembling the emblem or words aforementioned as to be capable of being mistaken for or, as the case may be, understood as referring to, that emblem or those words;

(c) any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (a) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a fine of one thousand dollars and to forfeit any goods upon or in connection with which the emblem design and wording was used;

(d) the Governor-General may make regulations for the use of the emblem and the repression of its misuse.

General Assembly of the Society.

10. (a) The highest authority of the Society shall be the General Assembly constituted in accordance with the Constitution.

(b) The first members of the General Assembly shall be those persons who, immediately before the coming into operation of this Act, are members elected to the position by the Branch.

(c) The General Assembly shall as soon as possible after the coming into operation of this Act adopt a Constitution for the management of the affairs of the Society and for the accomplishment of its objects.

Central Committee of the Society.

11. There shall also be a Central Committee of the Central Society which shall, subject to the provisions of this Act and of the Constitution, exercise the powers conferred upon it by the General Assembly.

Membership of the Society.

12. (a) The said Constitution of the Society shall not exclude from, nor deprive of membership any person or group of persons, on the ground of sex, race, colour, class, nationality, place of origin, religious or political beliefs.

(b) All members of the Society shall be represented in the General Assembly.

Passed in the House of Assembly this 12th day of April, 1984.

J. CLEMENT NOEL,
Clerk of the House of Assembly.

12Apr1984

The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Red Cross Society Incorporation Act 1984

[Source: International Committee of the Red Cross.]

Legislation
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