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Paragraphs in "Convention Establishing the Association of Caribbean States" coded as HOBF

Label Provision
Art.3 ARTICLE III: Nature, Purposes and Functions
Art.3.1 1. The Association is an organisation for consultation, cooperation and concerted action, whose purpose is to identify and promote the implementation of policies and programmes designed to:
Art.3.1.a (a) harness, utilise and develop the collective capabilities of the Caribbean Region to achieve sustained cultural, economic, social, scientific and technological advancement;
Art.3.1.b (b) develop the potential of the Caribbean Sea through interaction among Member States and with third parties;
Art.3.1.c (c) promote an enhanced economic space for trade and investment with opportunities for cooperation and concerted action, in order to increase the benefits which accrue to the peoples of the Caribbean from their resources and assets, including the Caribbean Sea;
Art.3.1.d (d) establish, consolidate and augment, as appropriate, institutional structures and cooperative arrangements responsive to the various cultural identities, developmental needs and normative systems within the region.
Art.3.2 2. In pursuit and fulfilment of the purposes set out in paragraph 1 of this Article, the Association shall promote gradually and progressively among its members the following activities:
Art.3.2.a (a) economic integration, including the liberalisation of trade, investment, transportation and other related areas;
Art.3.2.b (b) discussion on matters of common interest for the purpose of facilitating active and coordinated participation by the region in the various multilateral fora;
Art.3.2.c (c) the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes for functional cooperation in the fields mentioned in paragraph 1(a) of this Article;
Art.3.2.d (d) the preservation of the environment and conservation of the natural resources of the region and especially of the Caribbean Sea;
Art.3.2.e (e) the strengthening of friendly relationships among the Governments and peoples of the Caribbean;
Art.3.2.f (f) consultation, cooperation and concerted action in such other areas as may be agreed upon.
Art.5 ARTICLE V: Observers
Art.5.1x Observers may be admitted to the Association on terms and conditions as may be determined by the Ministerial Council. Observers may be admitted from among the States, Countries and Territories listed in Annexes I and II of this Convention. Additionally, any other State, Country, Territory, or an organization applying for observer status in the Association may be accorded such status, provided that the Ministerial Council so decides.
Art.6 ARTICLE VI: The Meeting of Heads of State or Government
Art.6.1 1. Any Head of State or Government of a Member State may propose the convening of a Meeting of Heads of State or Government. The Secretary-General shall convene the Meeting after consultation with the Member States.
Art.6.2 2. The Ministerial Council may, as it considers appropriate, propose the convening of a Meeting of Heads of State or Government.
Art.6.3 3. Where a Meeting of the Heads of State or Government is to be convened, the Ministerial Council shall convene preparatory meetings.
Art.8 ARTICLE VIII: The Ministerial Council
Art.8.1 1. The Ministerial Council, comprising representatives of Member States, as set out in Article X, shall be the principal Organ for policy-making and direction of the Association within the purposes and functions set out in Article III of this Convention.
Art.8.2 2. The Ministerial Council may, in accordance with its Rules of Procedure established under Article XI, convene at its discretion, special meetings of the Ministerial Council to consider the subject areas or issues proposed for its consideration.
Art.8.3 3. The Ministerial Council may, initially on an ad hoc basis, establish the Special Committees that it considers necessary to assist it in the performance of its functions. The Ministerial Council shall establish and determine the composition and terms of reference of:
Art.8.3.a (a) the Committee on Trade Development and External Economic Relations;
Art.8.3.b (b) the Committee for the Protection and Conservation of the Environment and of the Caribbean Sea;
Art.8.3.c (c) the Committee on Natural Resources,
Art.8.3.d (d) the Committee on Science, Technology, Health, Education and Culture; and
Art.8.3.e (e) the Committee on Budget and Administration.
Art.8.4 4. In their work, the Special Committees referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article may request and take into account the opinions of the Social Partners recognised under Article IX(d).
Art.9 ARTICLE IX: Functions of the Ministerial Council
Art.9.1x Consistent with the functions and activities of the Association set out in Article III (2) of the Convention, the Ministerial Council shall:
Art.9.1x.a (a) define courses of action, policies and programmes of the Association;
Art.9.1x.b (b) consider and approve the biennial Work Programme and Budget of the Association;
Art.9.1x.c (c) consider and determine applications for membership, associate membership of, or observer status with, the Association;
Art.9.1x.d (d) determine the Social Partners which it recognises and accepts and define their roles;
Art.9.1x.e (e) appoint the Secretary-General and such other senior officials of the Secretariat as it may deem appropriate;
Art.9.1x.f (f) establish Rules of Procedure and guidelines governing the functioning of the Association;
Art.9.1x.g (g) approve the regulations governing the operations of the Secretariat;
Art.9.1x.h (h) authorize the negotiation and conclusion, by the Secretary-General, of agreements with third parties, institutions or groups of states or other entities as may be required for the advancement of the work of the Association;
Art.9.1x.i (i) recommend and/or adopt amendments to the Convention proposed by Member States in accordance with Article XXVIII;
Art.9.1x.j (j) decide on the interpretation of this Convention;
Art.9.1x.k (k) perform such other functions as may be determined by the Meeting of Heads of State or Government.
Art.11 ARTICLE XI: Procedures of the Ministerial Council
Art.11.1 1. Subject to the provisions of this Article, the Ministerial Council shall establish its own Rules of Procedure.
Art.11.2 2. Meetings shall be presided over by a Chairman who shall be elected from among the representatives of Member States. The first Chairman shall be elected at the first meeting of the Ministerial Council and shall hold office for one year. Thereafter, the Chairmanship shall rotate in accordance with the Rules of Procedure established pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article.
Art.11.3 3. The Ministerial Council shall hold an annual regular meeting which will normally take place at the Headquarters of the Association. The Chairman of the Council shall convene special meetings if requested to do so by not less than two-thirds of the Member States.
Art.11.4 4. Subject to this paragraph and the provisions of Article XII(2), the Council of Ministers shall decide by consensus on the substantive matters submitted to it for consideration. Procedural matters shall be determined by a two-thirds majority of the Members present and voting. The Delegates present shall decide by a two-thirds majority vote on the classification of matters as either substantive or procedural. In any event, any issue that has a bearing on a decision relating to substantive matters will not be considered a procedural issue.
Art.12 ARTICLE XII: Budget
Art.12.1 1. The Ministerial Council shall examine and approve with such modifications, as it deems necessary, the draft Budget of the Association submitted by the Committee on Budget and Administration.
Art.12.2 2. Voting on the total figure of the Budget shall be preceded by a vote on each budget head. Each budget head shall be approved by a three-quarters majority of the votes of delegates present and voting. The total of the Budget of the Association shall be approved by consensus of delegates present.
Art.12.3 3. The Budget of the Association shall be prepared on a biennial basis, subject to an annual review. Where in any year, the Budget of the Association is not approved, the Budget of the Association voted for the previous biennium shall remain in force and Member States, and Associate Members shall continue to make the same contributions as for the preceding biennium.
Art.12.4 4. Contributions by Member States to the Budget of the Association shall be made in such proportions as the Ministerial Council may decide.
Art.13 ARTICLE XIII: Special Fund
Art.13.1x The Ministerial Council shall also establish a Special Fund for the purpose of financing programmes of technical cooperation and related research consistent with the purposes and functions of the Association. The Ministerial Council shall determine the general framework of the programmes to be supported out of the Special Fund. Specific activities within this framework shall be elaborated by the Committee on Trade Development and External Economic Relations with the assistance of the Secretariat. The Special Fund shall be made up of resources that on a voluntary basis can be contributed by Member States, non- Members or other entities.
Art.14 ARTICLE XIV: The Secretariat
Art.14.1 1. The Secretariat shall comprise a Secretary-General and such other staff as the Ministerial Council may determine. In addition to any powers conferred on the Secretary-General by or under this Convention, the Secretary-General shall be the Chief Administrative Officer of the Association.
Art.14.2 2. The Secretary-General shall be elected on the basis of rotation for a period of four years on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Ministerial Council.
Art.14.3 3. The Secretary-General shall act in that capacity in all Meetings of the Ministerial Council and Special Committees of the Association and shall make an annual report to the Ministerial Council on the work of the Association.
Art.14.4 4. In the performance of their duties, the Secretary- General and the staff of the Secretariat shall neither seek nor receive instructions from any Government of a Member State or from any other authority external to the Association. They shall refrain from any action which may reflect adversely on their position as officials of the Association and shall be responsible only to the Association.
Art.14.5 5. The Staff of the Secretariat shall be appointed by the Secretary-General in accordance with regulations established by the Ministerial Council. The paramount consideration in the appointment of the staff shall be the need to secure the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. In the recruitment of Staff, due regard shall be paid to the principles of equitable geographical distribution and linguistic representation.
Art.14.6 6. Member States undertake to respect the exclusively international character of the responsibilities of the Secretary- General and the staff and shall not seek to influence them in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Art.14.7 7. The Ministerial Council shall approve the Regulations governing the operations of the Secretariat.
Art.15 ARTICLE XV: Functions of the Secretariat
Art.15.1 1. In addition to any duties which may be assigned to it by the Ministerial Council, the Secretariat shall perform the following functions for the achievement of the purposes and functions of the Association:
Art.15.1.a (a) assist the Ministerial Council and the Special Committees of the Association in the development and implementation of policies and programmes;
Art.15.1.b (b) maintain contact with other sub-regional, regional and international organisations;
Art.15.1.c (c) initiate, organise and conduct studies on integration issues, and in particular, trade, investment and economic and social development issues;
Art.15.1.d (d) collect, store and disseminate information to Member States, Associate Members, and when the Ministerial Council so decides, to other relevant entities;
Art.15.1.e (e) service Meetings of the Ministerial Council and the Special Committees of the Association and take appropriate action on determinations emanating from such meetings;
Art.15.1.f (f) coordinate, within the framework of the work programme of the Association, the activities of donor agencies, international, regional and national institutions;
Art.15.1.g (g) prepare the draft Budget of the Association for examination by the Committee on Budget and Administration every two years to be submitted for the consideration and approval, as appropriate, by the Ministerial Council.
Art.15.2 2. In the discharge of its functions, the Secretariat shall enter into cooperation arrangements with, and draw on, the capacities of the existing integration organisations in the region.
Art.17 ARTICLE XVII: Privileges and Immunities
Art.17.1 1. The privileges and immunities to be recognised and granted by Member States and Associate Members in relation to the Association shall be set out in a Protocol to this Convention.
Art.17.2 2. The Association shall conclude a Headquarters Agreement with the Government of the Member State where it is located, including provisions on the privileges and immunities recognised and granted.
Art.28 ARTICLE XXVIII: Amendment
Art.28.1 1. Amendments to this Convention may be made by consensus of the Meeting of Heads of State or Government or of the Ministerial Council.
Art.28.2 2. Such amendments shall enter into force thirty days after ratification by two-thirds of the Member States.
Art.29 ARTICLE XXIX: Interpretation and Disputes Settlement
Art.29.1x Any question or dispute arising among the Members of the Association, relating to the interpretation or application of this Convention, and which cannot be settled by the parties concerned, shall be settled by the Ministerial Council.