THE CHARTER
&
THE BYLAWS
OF THE Belize Progressive Party
OF Belize (BPP)
As Prepared by
The Belize Progressive PartyAugust 19, 2010
CHARTER OF THE Belize Progressive Party of Belize (BPP)
PREAMBLE:1 ARTICLE ONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Belize Progressive Party of Belize
2 ARTICLE TWO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Belize Progressive Party National Convention
3 ARTICLE THREE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Belize Progressive Party National Committee
4 ARTICLE FOUR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Committee
5 ARTICLE FIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . National Chairperson
6 ARTICLE SIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Party Conference
7 ARTICLE SEVEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Belize Progressive Party Finance Organizations
8 ARTICLE EIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Full Participation
9 ARTICLE NINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . General Provisions
10 ARTICLE TEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amendments, Bylaws, and Rules
10 RESOLUTION OF ADOPTION
BYLAWS
Adopted Pursuant to the Charter of the Democratic Party of Belize
11 ARTICLE ONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Belize Progressive Party National Convention
11 ARTICLE TWO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Belize Progressive Party National Committee
19 ARTICLE THREE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Committee
21 ARTICLE FOUR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . National Finance Organizations
21 ARTICLE FIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amendments
CHARTER
CHARTER OF THE Belize Progressive Party of BelizePREAMBLE
We, the members of the Belizean Progressive Party of Belize united in common purpose; hereby dedicate ourselves to the principles which will historically sustain our Party (BPP). Recognizing that the vitality of the country’s political institutions has been the foundation of its enduring strength, we acknowledge that a political party which wishes to lead must listen to those it would lead. A party which asks for the people's trust must prove that it trusts the people, and a party which hopes to call forth the best the Country can achieve must embody the best of the Nation's heritage and traditions.
What we seek for our country is the hope for all people: individual freedom in the framework of a just society, political freedom in the framework of meaningful participation by all citizens bound by the Belizean Constitution, aware that a party must be responsive to be worthy of responsibility, we pledge ourselves to open, honest endeavor and to the conduct of public affairs in a manner worthy of a society of a free people. For these ends and upon these principles, we do establish and adopt this Charter of the Belizean Progressive Party (BPP) of Belize.
ARTICLE ONE
The Belize Progressive Party of Belize
The Belize Progressive Party of Belize shall:
Section1
Nominate and assist in the election of Party candidates for the offices of Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Belize;
Section2
Adopt and promote statements of policy;
Section3
Assist country and local District Party organizations in the election of their candidates and the education of their voters;
Section4
Establish standards and rules of procedure to afford all members of the Party
- Full, timely and equal opportunities to participate in decisions concerning the selection of candidates
- The formulation of policy
- The conduct of other Party affairs, without prejudice on the basis of sex, race, age (if of voting age), color, creed, national origin, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, ethnic identity or physical disability to promote fair campaign practices and the fair adjudication of disputes.
Section5
Raise and disburse monies needed for the successful operation of the Party;
Section6
Work with public officials at all levels to achieve the objectives of the
Party; and
Section7
Encourage and support codes of political ethics that embody substantive rules of ethical guidance for public officials and employees in governments to assure that public officials shall at all times conduct themselves in a manner that reflects creditably upon the office they serve.
They shall not use their office to gain special privileges and benefits and shall refrain from acting in their official capacities when their independence of judgment would be adversely affected by personal interest or duties.
ARTICLE TWO
BPP Convention
Section1
The Belize Progressive Party shall assemble in a Party Convention every five year in which an election for office of Prime Minister of Belize is held.
Section 2
The Convention shall be the highest authority of the BPP, subject to the provisions of this Charter. The Convention shall recognize the country and other parties entitled to participate in the conduct of the national affairs of the Party, including its conventions, conferences and committees. Country’s party rules or Country’s laws relating to the election of representatives to the Convention shall be observed unless in conflict with this Charter and other provisions adopted pursuant to authority of the Charter, including the resolutions or other actions of the Convention. In the event of such conflict with country’s laws, country’s Parties shall be required to take provable positive steps to bring such laws into conformity and to carry out such other measure as may be required by the Party Convention or the Country’s Party Committees.
Section3
The BPP Convention shall nominate a candidate for the office of Prime Minister of Belize
Section 4
The BPP Convention shall be composed of representatives equally divided between men and women. The representatives shall be chosen through processes which:
(a)Assure all voters full, timely and equal opportunity to participate and include affirmative action programs toward that end.
(b) Assure that representatives fairly reflect the division of preferences expressed by those who participate in the Prime Minister nominating process.
(c) Exclude the use of the unit rule at any level,
(d) Do not deny participation for failure to pay a cost, fee or poll tax,
(e) Allow participation in good faith by all voters who are party members and also allowing those who are not registered or affiliated with any party.
(f) Except with respect to persons referred to in Section 5(b) of this Article, begin within the
calendar year of the Convention provided, however, that fairly apportioned and openly selected district Party Committees, elected no earlier than the date of the previous Prime Minister election, shall not be precluded from selecting such portion of their respective district representatives, according to the standards provided in this Charter and the Bylaws and the representative Selection Rules, as may be specifically authorized by the BPP Committee in the Call to the Convention.
(g)Prohibit unpledged and uncommitted representatives, except representatives or alternates expressing an uncommitted preference shall be permitted to be elected at the district level, in which event, if such preference meets the applicable threshold and qualifies for at-large or similar delegates or alternates, such at-large or similar delegates or alternates shall be allocated to that uncommitted preference as if it were a Prime Minister candidate.
(h) Not withstanding any provision to the contrary in this Section:
(i) Provide for all of the members of the BPP National Committee to serve as unpledged representatives.
(ii) Provide for each district, or territory to select a number of unpledged representatives equal to one (1) such delegate for every four (4) votes on the BPP National Committee from that district or territory pursuant to Article Three, Section 2(a) and 2(b) of the Charter.
(iii) Permit unpledged representatives consisting of:
1) The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime minister of Belize.
2) The members of Belize House and the members of the House of Representatives.
3) Former Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Belize.
4) Former Majority and Minority Leaders of the house.
5) Former Speakers and Minority Leaders of Belize House of Representatives.
6) Former Chairs of the BPP National Committee.
7) Such representatives shall not be permitted to have alternates and such representative shall constitute an exception to Subsection (b) of this Section 4.
Section5
The representative vote allocated to each district shall be determined as provided in the Bylaws,
Consistent with the following
(a) Giving equal weight to population, which may be measured by electoral vote, and to the vote in elections for office of Prime Minister?
(b) Giving such additional representative votes as may be specifically designated by the BPP Committee in the Call to the Convention, subject to such conditions as may be set forth by the
BPP Committee in said Call, for the purpose of providing incentives for scheduling the event
Constituting the first determining stage in the Prime Minister nominating process in each district later in the year of the Convention than such event would otherwise be scheduled in the absence of such incentive.
(c) Which shall also provide additional representative positions to members of the BPP Committee?
(d) Which may also provide additional representative positions to elected officials designated by the BPP Committee in the Call to the Convention, subject to the provisions of Section 4.
ARTICLE THREE
Belize Progressive Party Committee
Section 1
The BPP Committee shall have general responsibility for the affairs of the party between conventions, subject to the provisions of this Charter and to the resolutions or other actions of the convention. This responsibility shall include:
(a) Issuing the Call to the BPP Convention.
(b) Conducting the Party's Prime Minister’s campaign.
(c) Filling vacancies in the nominations for the office of Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
(d) Formulating and disseminating statements of Party policy.
(e) Providing for the election or appointment of committee members, four of whom shall be of the opposite sex of the Chairperson, one of whom shall be the Vice Chairperson for Voter.
(f)All other actions necessary or appropriate in order to carry out the provisions of this Charter
and the objectives of the Belize Progressive Party.
ARTICLE FOUR
Executive Committee
Section 1
There shall be an executive committee of the BPP organization, responsible for the conduct and affairs of the party in adherence to Party principles (Charter).
Section 2
The Party Executive Committee will be elected by and serve the members of the committee. The makeup, the size and their duration in office will be set by the committee members only. For this to be effective only a half of the total committee members is required to make such decision.
Section 3
The BPP Executive Committee will be allowed to meet as often as possible, This meeting will be called by the Chairperson and records showing the contents of the meeting shall and will be expected at all times for the purpose of public view and transparency.
ARTICLE FIVE
BPP National Chairperson
Section 1
The BPP Chairperson and the BPP party will carry out the programs and the policies of the party in regards to Party conventions and BPP national Committee.
Section 2
The Party Chairperson and other nominated members or elected members who will be the Party Treasurer, the Secretary, and Finance Chairperson will be done at:
- A meeting of the BPP National Committee after the election of the Prime Minister
- When there is a vacancy.
- Will be removed from office by a majority vote of the BPP Committee.
- Term of office will expire upon change of Administration for every term.
Chairperson will preside over all meetings pertaining elections of BPP and Committee Executive. Also it must be noted that in the event of a chairman’s vacancy, the vice chairman will as provided in Article 2, Section 12(b) of the Bylaws or the second highest member will preside over that meeting.
Section 4
The Chairperson will receive compensation as agreed upon by both parties (Chairperson and BPP Committee. With regards to his duties, he will apply impartiality witjhout prejudice the nomination of the Prime Minister. In so doing will ensure that the national office and staff of the BPP committee alsos maintain that impartiallity during this Process.
ARTICLE SIX
Party Conference
The BPP Party will hold a National Party Conference based on the party’s discretion to be done on the nature, agenda, composition, time and place of the meetings.
ATICLE SEVEN
BPP Financial Organization
Section 1
The BPP Committee will be responsible in establishing a finance organization that will be responsible for the finances of the BPP. This finance organization shall raise funds to help support the BPP and will also help others in securing and raising funds for their individual group use.
Section 2
The BPP Finance Chair will be elected and confirmed by the BPP Committee.
ARTICLE EIGHT
FULL PARTICIPATION
Section 1
BPP of Belize will be open to all Belizeans who are supporters of the party and wish to be members of the Belize Progressive Party.
Section 2
The BPP will be a party of none discrimination - none-discrimination in its affairs based on race, sex, color, religion, age, origin, sexual orientation, economic status, and disability. To this end is assured that the BPP is a party for the people and cater to all openly.
Section 3
To ensure full participation the party’s main concern concentrating on minorities - garifuna, creole, Spanish Maya, ketchi Indians Spanish, women and youth as written in the Bylaws of the BPP, the BPP will implements some form of an affirmative action plan that will represent all aforementioned group’ With that in mind, a time table, proper planning and goals will be set for a more achievable end.
ARTICLE NINE
General Provision
Section1
BPP means Belize Progressive Party of Belize
Section 2
The Bylaws of the Party Charter will provide for the districts in which the BPP Prime Minister or other electors are committed do not appear on the ballot.
Section 3
For the objective of this charter, the country of Belize will be treated as the country with all the districts feasible for elections.
Section 4
The Bylaws will provide for the general organization of the Party.
Section 5
To assure the honest selection of Prime Minister of Belize, the party committee will adapt some legitimates statement or policy to prove the legitimacy of this elected post.
Section 6
The party committee with adapt some sort of policy that will be maintained and published proving fair campaign practices. This code of campaign practices will be adapted and adhered to
by all candidates involved in the Party campaign.
Section 7
Voting by proxy will not be allowed at the Party convention but will be allowed in other party affairs as provided by the Bylaws of the party.
Section 8
All meetings conducted by official of the BPP will be open to the public, this will eliminate the taking of votes by secret method or otherwise.
Section 9
The party will prepare and make available to the people and citizens monthly, semi-annual and possibly yearly reports where appropriate financial reports pertaining to finances of the party.
Section 10
If there are no rules that are found to comply with immediate given situation, an ad hoc law will be established to satisfy that situation until a firm law is or can be established.
Section 11
If needed, the content of this Charter in relations to the Party’s Bylaws or the portion that needs conversion can and will be done based on these laws. This will be done only upon request.
Section 12
The Party’s committee membership will be evenly or near evenly divided by sex (man and woman), This will be done by adhering to the Bylaws and other laws of the Party.
Section 13
The Belize Progressive Party (BPP) Credo
We the Belizean Progressive Party is the youngest political party in Belize, and also the youngest in spirit and will be so for a long time to come because of our enjoyment of government challenges. From this moment we the BPP will dedicate ourselves in fighting to build and defend our nation, to encourage commerce, to educate our people, promote equal opportunity for all Belizean, advance and enhance our technological and science industry, recognize the value of the arts and humanities, restore land, develop our human and natural resources. Relieve poverty and enhance or build our environment. We are aware that we have a long and difficult road ahead but it is our goal to forge ahead with determination in achieving these goals.
Also conscious of the government limitations, we still recognize the force that the government plays as the means or the main source of hope for its people.
We the BPP takes nothing for granted, but in our heart lays the basic and fundamental conviction - that all Belizeans must not only be free but must and should live within a society that is fair and just.
We also believe that it is the responsibility of the government to help us is achieving this for the benefit of the society:
- A society where the old and the disable can live in peace and dignity by means of an unshakably social security benefit.
- A society where Belizeans can find jobs in a growing economy
- A society where workers can work legally band by joining any union of their choose and where they can lobby collectively for better wages and or better working environment
- A society where the rights of women are established and guaranteed within the Belizean constitution
- A society where the human rights of all individuals, especially minorities is respected and without bias or prejudice are guaranteed equal opportunity for survival
- A society where all discrimination based on race, color, creed, nation origin, sex and other human flaws are tackled by the government with delay, but done within the pretest of the law
- A society where we recognize that the survival of the family is based on the protection of our children. This in turn will help in the growth of a people and a nation.
- A society where education, nutrition, proper housing, proper health care, sagfe streets and clean environment are assets in the wellbeing of a nation and its people.
- A society where the need of a strong and proper defense is needed for the protection of its citizens and its nation.
To our people we say this is our purpose and our promise.
ARTICLE TEN
Amendments, Bylaws and Rules
Section 1
Provision will be made for amendment of the Charter by a majority vote comprising of the majority of the Party Committee Members. For these amendments to be ratified and accepted they must be submitted to Committee meeting within 30 days. After receipt of document for amendment it will then be published to the public via media.
Section 2
Bylaws of the BPP will be adapted for the purpose of party governance in conjunction with rules not mentioned in this Charter - Noted that Bylaws may be adapted by majority votes only in respect to Party Convention.
Section 3
Each official committee of the BPP will if formed under this Charter must adhere to the principles rules and regulations in carrying out their affairs in conjunction with the Bylaws and other provisions made and documented in this Charter. What is expected of the party Committee is that a copy of or copies of the charter are on hand and ready for distribution at any given time upon request.
Section 4
Each recognized district of the BPP is expected to adapt and conduct affairs in compliance with the Party’s written rules.
BYLAWS
Adapted Pursuant to the Charter of the Belizean Progressive Party of Belize
Article 1
Belize Progressive Party Convention
Section 1
The BPP convention will be the Party’s highest authority within the party. This will be done in accordance with the provisions made by the Charter.
Section 2
The BPP convention will adapt permanent rules governing the party and its conduct at the very offset of a convention. If for any reason the rules adapted are temporary, this will be maintained throughout the convention until laws are made permanent by the party executives or leaders.
Section 3
All represents of the party districts will be arranged in order as mandated by the party’s charter/
ARTICLE 2
Belizean Progressive Party Committee
Section 1
Duties and Power: The BPP Committee will have overall responsibilities for the affairs of the Party subject to the provision of the Charter. These responsibilities will not the limited to:
- Arrangement of district party representatives
- Conduct the Party’s Prime Minister campaign
- Filling in all vacant position for Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
- Assisting all organizations in the elections of their candidates and also help in th education of their voters
- Formulating and distributing party policies, and programs for public issues under the supervision of or recommendation of the Party’s Chairperson or representative.
- Provide for the election of Party chairman, Treasurer, Finance. Secretary, and filling in vacancies of other officers deemed necessary as required but still in guidance with the Charter of the Party.
- Establishing and maintaining a Party headquarters
- Establishing and promoting by the implementation of all party mandates. Some of which are listed but not limited to:
II. The fulfillment of party pledge and commitments
III. Prepare and distribute all pertinent information via communication to its members and the general public
IV. Develop and help in the maintenance of a public relations program for the party
V. Develop a program for the committee, organizations, officials and the party members
No comments:
Post a Comment