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South Pacific Centre for International Relations Act

Commencement: 30 May 1983

LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
REVISED EDITION 1988

CHAPTER 170

SOUTH PACIFIC CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Act 14 of 1983

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION
1. Interpretation
2. Establishment of the Centre
3. Council
4. Deputy chairman
5. Objects of the Centre
6. Powers of the Council
7. Meetings
8. Director
9. Employees
10. Liability of members, officers and employees
11. Funds
12. Accounts and records
13. Submission of estimates for grants
14. Annual report
15. Evidence of sealing of documents
16. Ministerial directions
17. Regulations

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SOUTH PACIFIC CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

To provide for the establishment of the South Pacific Centre for International Relations, its objects, powers and matters connected therewith.

INTERPRETATION

1. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

"A.C.C.T." means l'Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique (Cultural and Technical Cooperation Agency);

"Centre" means the South Pacific Centre for International Relations established under section 2;

"Council" means the Council of the Centre established under section 3;

"Director" means the Director of the Centre appointed under section 8;

"member" means a member of the Council appointed by the Minister under section 3(1)(a);

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for foreign affairs.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTRE

2. (1) There is hereby established a body corporate to be known as the South Pacific Centre for International Relations.

(2) The Centre shall have perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

COUNCIL

3. (1) There shall be a Council of the Centre which shall consist of-

(a) five members appointed by the Minister and who shall be-

(i) a representative of the Ministry responsible for education;

(ii) a representative of the Ministry responsible for foreign affairs;

(iii) a representative of the Ministry responsible for finance;

(iv) a representative of A.C.C.T.;

(v) a person who the Minister considers has relevant experience in international relations;

(b) the Director, ex-officio member;

(c) the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, ex-officio chairman.

(2) A member shall hold office for 3 years and shall be eligible for reappointment.

(3) A member may resign his office by not less than 30 days notice in writing to the Minister.

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN

4. (1) The Minister shall appoint from among the members a deputy-chairman of the Council.

(2) The deputy chairman shall serve as such until his term as member of the Centre ends and may be reappointed.

(3) Where the chairman is absent or otherwise unable or unfit to discharge his functions, the deputy chairman shall have and exercise all the powers of the chairman under this Act.

OBJECTS OF THE CENTRE

5. The objects of the Centre shall be-

(a) to promote bilingualism in the French and English languages;

(b) to initiate, encourage, support and conduct research and training programmes on any matter related to international relations;

(c) to foster cooperation in research on bilingualism and international relations between the Centre and governments, organizations or bodies interested therein;

(d) to examine and report on any question or matter related to bilingualism or international relations which may be referred to it by the Government.

POWERS OF THE COUNCIL

6. (1) The Council shall have the powers to do all the things necessary or conducive to the carrying out of its objects.

(2) Without derogation from the generality of subsection (1), the Council may-

(a) purchase, hold, manage and dispose of any property;

(b) promote or finance any undertaking related to international relations or the promotion of bilingualism;

(c) subject to the prior approval of the Minister responsible for finance, borrow or lend money on such terms and conditions as the Council thinks fit;

(d) establish or participate in any pension and provident fund scheme for the benefit of its employees and their dependants;

(e) publish printed or audio visual matter for sale or otherwise;

(f) sponsor or support conferences, seminars or other meetings on any matter related to international relations or the promotion of bilingualism;

(g) initiate and carry out training sessions or programmes for diplomatic or consular agents;

(h) initiate and carry out research and training programmes to promote bilingualism;

enter into agreements with any Government, organization or body for the better carrying out of the objects of the Centre; charge fees for services rendered by it.

MEETINGS

7. (1) The Council shall meet not less than twice in every 12 months. The chairman shall convene the meetings at such times and places as he thinks fit.

(2) The quorum at meetings shall be four members of the Council.

(3) The chairman or in his absence the deputy chairman shall preside at every meeting of the Centre. Where neither is present, the Council shall elect one of its members to preside over that meeting, who shall have and exercise the same powers as the chairman.

(4) The proceedings at any meeting shall not be invalidated by any defect in the appointment of any member.

(5) Decisions of the Council shall be made by a majority vote of members present and voting. The chairman shall have a casting vote.

(6) If a member has any pecuniary interests, direct or indirect in any contract or proposed contract or other matter relating to the Centre he shall as soon as practicable disclose to the chairman of the Council the fact and nature of his interest.

(7) The Council may invite any person to participate in its meetings but without the right to vote.

(8) Subject to this Act, the Council may make internal rules regulating its procedures.

(9) Any rules made in accordance with subsection (8) shall be issued under the hand of the chairman.

DIRECTOR

8. (1) The Minister may after consultation with the Council, appoint upon such terms and conditions as the Council thinks fit a Director who shall be an employee of the Centre.

(2) The Director shall be the chief executive and administrative officer of the Centre.

(3) The Council may delegate to the Director, with or without restrictions or conditions, such of its powers and functions as it may consider expedient for the day to day operation of the Centre.

(4) The Director shall cause to be prepared the minutes of all meetings of the Council.

(5) The Director shall keep in safe custody the seal and all documents of the Centre, receive all process served on the Centre and carry out such other duties as the Council shall direct.

EMPLOYEES

9. The Council may appoint, at such remuneration and upon such terms and conditions as it thinks fit such other staff as may be required for the proper and efficient discharge of the objects of the Centre.

LIABILITY OF MEMBERS, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

10. No personal liability shall attach to any member, officer or employee of the Centre in respect of anything done or omitted to be done in good faith and without negligence in the course of the operation of the Centre.

FUNDS

11. (1) The funds of the Centre shall consist of-

(a) grants from the Government out of monies appropriated by Parliament for such purposes;

(b) grants from other sources;

(c) monies borrowed by the Centre;

(d) monies received by the Centre in any other way in the course of the discharge of its objects.

(2) Any funds of the Centre not immediately required for the carrying out of its objects may be invested in such manner as the Council may approve.

ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS

12. (1) The Centre shall keep proper accounts and other records in respect of its receipts and expenditures and shall cause to be prepared an annual statement of accounts for each financial year.

(2) The accounts of the Centre shall be audited by an independent and qualified auditor appointed by the Council.

(3) As soon as is reasonable after the end of each financial year the Council shall provide the Minister and the Minister responsible for finance each with a copy of the audited accounts and auditor's report.

SUBMISSION OF ESTIMATES FOR GRANTS

13. If the Centre shall need a grant referred to in section 11(1)(a), so that the Government may determine the amount thereof for inclusion in the Budget, the Centre shall, not less than 90 days before commencement of the financial year during which the grant is required, submit to the Minister responsible for finance estimates of expenditure and receipts for that year and of unexpended funds carried forward.

ANNUAL REPORT

14. Not later than 1st April in each year the Council shall prepare a report of activities of the Centre during the preceding year and shall send a copy to the Minister and publish the same in such manner as the Minister may direct.

EVIDENCE OF SEALING OF DOCUMENTS

15. The fact that a document bears the seal of the Centre shall be prima facie evidence in any court or legal proceedings that the document has been properly executed by and on behalf of the Centre.

MINISTERIAL DIRECTIONS

16. The Minister may, after consultation with the Centre, give to the Centre such directions of a general character with respect to the performance of any objects of the Centre as appear to the Minister to be requisite in the public interest.

REGULATIONS

17. The Minister may make regulations not inconsistent with this Act for the better carrying out of the objects and purposes of this Act.

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