UPDATE ON THE CTO CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT

Transcription

1 UPDATE ON THE CTO CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT 1

2 Update on the CTO Constitution Amendment In January 2014 a joint meeting of the CTO Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism and the Board of Directors voted to change the revocation policy in the CTO constitution. The change of policy prescribes revocation of membership after 2 years of arrears as opposed to the current provision of revocation after 3 years of arrears. 2

3 Update on the CTO Constitution Amendment The change is expected to be ratified at the AGM on September 17, Once ratified, it will go into force on January 1, The changed Article 22 (4) and the process used to change the revocation policy has been vetted by CTO s legal counsel. 3

4 Membership is automatically revoked if a government member is two years in arrears in the payment of dues, unless in the opinion of the Council of Ministers & Commissioners such extenuating circumstances exist as to allow the membership to continue. If, in the opinion of the Council of Ministers & Commissioners there are extenuating circumstances, the member must agree in writing to bring their membership status back in line with the provisions of this Article in the shortest possible timeframe. The member s status should be reviewed by the Council of Ministers and Commissioners at least once annually to ensure that the agreed terms and conditions are being met 4

5 Update on the CTO Constitution Amendment A Constitution Review Committee has been set up. Members were asked to submit their proposals for amendments to the Constitution. The items received from Members and from internal review by CTO staff have been submitted for review by the Constitution Review Committee. 5

6 CTO ELECTION PROCEDURES 6

7 CTO Election Procedures All candidates contesting a seat are required to be present to be on the ballot. Only members in good financial standing are eligible to vote in elections or to stand for elections. (Good financial standing means having only the current years dues outstanding). Only Tourism Ministers and Commissioners or their approved representatives can vote in this election. 7

8 CTO Election Procedures (continued) Only members in good financial standing can nominate and second a candidate for election. There will be one ballot paper per member state. Each member state (in good financial standing) will cast a vote to elect the Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism by secret ballot. 8

9 CTO Election Procedures (continued) The votes will be counted immediately after all the ballots papers are cast. If, on the first ballot there is no majority, a second ballot will be taken between the two candidates who obtained the most votes. The result also determines the Chairman of the Board of Directors, as that individual is from the same country as the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. 9

10 CTO Election Procedures (continued) Seven (7) Vice Chairmen of the Board of Directors are elected, representing the six (6) sub-regions of the CTO on the Board. All candidates must be in good financial standing. The process for this election is a follows: - A candidate is nominated (and seconded) - Voting is by a show of hands. 10

11 CTO Election Procedures (continued) These officers form the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. The sub-regions and the number of representatives are as follows: US territories - 1 Dutch speaking territories - 1 Spanish speaking territories - 1 French speaking territories - 1 CARICOM countries - 2 British overseas territories

12 CTO Election Procedures (continued) The CTO Allied Membership elects 5 members from among its ranks to sit on the CTO Board of Directors. Allied members who are desirous of being elected to sit on the CTO Board of Directors indicate this intention to the CTO Secretariat. Voting is done in a separate election process by the Allied Members who are present. 12