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Article I: Name

The name of the Association shall be the United Nations Association of Trinidad and Tobago [UNATT] and its office shall be in Trinidad and Tobago.

Article II: Aims and Objectives

The Aims and Objectives of the Association shall be:

  1. To spread knowledge of the goals and activities of and to win support for the United Nations and its Specialised Agencies.

  2. To organise and assist in the execution of projects associated with the UN directive to serve:

    1. The promotion of economic development, enhancement of social progress and better standards of life;

    2. The promotion of understanding, solidarity and co-operation among men, women and children in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and throughout the world without distinction as to race, language, religion or political orientation;

    3. The promotion and maintenance of peace;

    4. The promotion of respect for Human Rights as provided for in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations including the Rights of Women and the Rights of Children;

    5. Further education and enlightenment of the peoples of Trinidad and Tobago for the improvement of International Understanding and Cooperation.

  3. To promote and assist in the formation of United Nations Youth Clubs and Associations and encourage their affiliation to the United Nations, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) and other Specialised Agencies.

  4. To promote and assist in the formation of United Nations Associations in the Caribbean Region.

  5. To function as a medium of communication between other non-governmental organisations and the United Nations and its Specialised Agencies.

  6. To do such other things as may be deemed necessary to promote the principles and programmes of the United Nations.

Article III: Membership  | Back to Top

  1. Every application for membership must be made on the membership form and shall be considered by the Executive Committee or any sub-committee thereof and shall require the approval of the Executive Committee.

  2. Categories of Membership shall include:

    1. Individual Membership

      Any person of the age of eighteen (18) years and upwards who signified agreement with the aims and objectives of the Association shall be eligible for membership.

    2. Student Membership

      Any person below the age of eighteen (18) years may be admitted as a student member of the Association. The Executive Committee of the Association shall make regulations controlling the admission of student members. Student membership is also open to persons enrolled in any recognised educational institution.

    3. Community-based Organisations (CBO) Membership

      Community based organisations shall be defined as such bodies engaged in community work, community development and community mobilisation which accept the aims and objectives of the Association.

      i. Educational, professional, social welfare organisations, workers groups and friendly societies.

      ii Religious bodies, youth and school organisations.

    4. Honorary Membership

      An individual may be accorded Honorary Membership by the Executive Committee. Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Representatives of the United Nations Bodies accredited to Trinidad and Tobago are eligible to become Honorary Members of the Association.

    5. Corporate Membership

      Any limited liability company or other corporate body that accepts the aims and objectives of the Association, shall be eligible for membership, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

Article IV: Subscriptions | Back to Top

  1. The Executive Committee shall recommend to the Annual General Meeting for its approval, that subscriptions be imposed or varied from time to time.

  2. The applicable subscription shall be paid by a newly accepted member within one (1) month after notification that the application has been approved and thereafter subscriptions shall be payable during the first month of the financial year.

  3. The annual subscription shall be as is determined, from time to time, by the Annual General Meeting subject to Article IV (1).

  4. Members joining in the first half of the financial year will pay the full subscription, and those joining in the second half of the year will pay 50%.

  5. Members who are given Leave of Absence shall be required to pay during their absence, such subscriptions as the Executive, in its discretion, may determine.

Article V: Termination of Membership | Back to Top

  1. Any member may withdraw from the Association by signifying a wish to do so by letter addressed to the General Secretary provided that such withdrawal shall only be effective as at the end of the financial year of the Association in which such notice shall have been given. Such member shall be required to pay to the Association the annual subscription in respect of such financial year. Such member shall on or before his withdrawal as a member return all books or other property belonging to the Association.

  2. Any member who shall have failed to pay dues for two (2) years after being duly notified by the Treasurer shall forfeit membership in the Association. Such member may be readmitted to membership upon application in accordance with Article III and shall be required to pay the outstanding dues and such fees as are payable in accordance with Article IV.

  3. Any member who in the opinion of the Executive Committee shall be guilty of conduct inimical to the best interests of the Association shall by a resolution duly passed by the Executive Committee be relieved of membership.

  4. Members who are given Leave of Absence shall be required to pay such fees as the Executive, in its discretion, may determine.

Article VI: Branches | Back to Top

The Executive Committee is authorised to create or establish branches should the need arise and to define the rules by which they function.

Article VII: General Meetings | Back to Top

  1. The annual General Meetings of the Branches shall be held in January or February and that of the National Association in March at which time the prescribed reports of the activities of the preceding year shall be presented and officers elected for the ensuing year.

  2. Special General Meetings shall be summoned by the President unilaterally on the advice of the National Executive Committee and/or upon the written request of not fewer than nine members of the Association who are in up to date financial standing and represent at least two (2) Branches

  3. The quorum at all General Meetings shall be one third of the total membeship or ten whichever is greater. The President shall have an origianl and casting vote.

  4. A General Meeting shall have authority to prescribe rules, which shall be binding on officers, the National Executive and the Branches in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the Association and the advancement of of its objectives.

  5. A General Meeting shall have authority to appoint three (3) trustees on the recommendation of the Executive Committee

Article VIII: Executive Committee | Back to Top

  1. Officers of the Association shall form the Executive Committee comprising:

    The President; Vice President; Immediate Past President; (shall remain as an officer during the term of the successor), General Secretary; Assistant Secretary; Treasurer; Education Officer; Communications Officer all of whom shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Association.

  2. Trustees are appointed to serve as Officers of the Association but shall not be members of the Executive Committee.

  3. The Executive Committee may from time to time co-opt from among other Members of the Association, no more than three (3) persons, to serve as Officers of the Association. Such Officers shall be appointed for such periods and to carry out such duties as the Executive Committee may require. Co-opted Members shall not be members of the Executive Committee.

  4. Members of the Executive Committee shall hold office for a period of two (2) years.

Article IX: Duties of Officers | Back to Top

  1. The President shall be responsible for the administration of the Association, preside at all General Meetings and meetings of the Executive Committee and be responsible for the overall work of the Association.

  2. The Vice President shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President and in the absence of the President and the Vice President, the Immediate Past President shall preside.

  3. The Vice President shall assist the President generally and shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the President or by the Executive Committee.

  4. The General Secretary shall issue notice of all meetings; keep minutes and records of meetings of the Association and of the Management and Executive Committees, and shall cause to be kept current a Register of Members; conduct correspondence as directed, and shall be responsible for the day-to-day work of the Association. The General Secretary shall supervise the operations of the Office of the Secretary and shall carry out such other duties as may be assigned by the President or by the Executive Committee.

  5. The Assistant Secretary shall assist with the duties of the General Secretary as well as other duties as may be delegated.

  6. The Treasurer shall be responsible for all books of accounts of the Association and shall pay all bills as directed by the President or the Executive Committee. At the direction of the Executive Committee, the Treasurer shall open an account or accounts in a financial institution to be approved and into which shall be deposited all monies received for the account of the Association and from which all monies payable by the Association shall be disbursed by cheques. Such account or accounts shall be operated upon signatures of one (1) Officer from each of the two (2) following categories:

    [A] the President or the Vice President and

    [B] The Treasurer (or such person for the time carrying out the duties of Treasurer) or the Assistant Secretary.

  7. The Treasurer or such other Officers as the Executive Committee may authorise, shall keep itemised records of all receipts and expenditure and present financial statements as directed by the Executive Committee, for presentation at the Annual General Meeting. The Treasurer shall prepare and submit to the Executive Committee a statement of receipts for disbursements in the form of income and expenditure accounts and balance sheets.

  8. The Treasurer shall prepare annually, before 31st January, and present to the Executive Committee for its approval, budget projections for the ensuing financial year. The Treasurer shall promptly hand over to his successor in office, not later than seven (7) days after election to that office, all cash in hand, books, records and papers and shall receive a listed receipt therefore.

  9. The Trustees shall jointly hold all real property and physical assets of the Association, without prejudice to the authority of the Executive Committee to manage and direct the use and application of the same in accordance with this Constitution and in the interest of the Association. In the event of the dissolution of the Association, the Trustees shall be the sole representatives and act jointly as agent for and on behalf of the Association.

Article X: Management | Back to Top

    1. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once every two (2) months or as often as is deemed necessary, at the Headquarters of the Association or such other place, as they shall appoint. The quorum at such meetings shall be one-third (1/3) plus one (1) of the Officers of the Association and the President shall have an original and casting vote.

    2. The Executive Committee shall have power to formulate and implement the policies and programmes of the Association and to carry out its aims and objectives, subject to any directions which may be given at any General Meeting of the Association.

    3. The Executive Committee by unanimous agreement, subject to Article III (d), may appoint such persons as they deem fit to be Honorary Members of the Association.

    4. The President, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee, may appoint Standing Committees to consider and make recommendations on Fund raising, Bye-Laws, Membership and UN Programmes.

    5. The Executive Committee has the power to establish sub-committees as deemed necessary.

    6. All recommendations of the Standing Committees and sub-committees shall be made in writing, through the General Secretary to the President who shall present same to the Executive Committee for consideration and adoption.

    7. Standing Committees shall submit written reports on their activities to the General Secretary of the Association at least seven (7) days before each meeting of the Executive Committee.

    8. A member of the Executive Committee should cease to be a member if absent from three (3) consecutive meetings without having been granted leave of absence. The Executive Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy arising between two (2) Annual General Meetings.

    9. The Headquarters of the Association shall be at such place as the Executive Committee shall from time to time determine.

    1. There shall be a Management Committee comprising the President, Vice President, all elected Officers, Committee Members and Trustees.

    2. The Management Committee shall meet monthly or as often as may be considered necessary to consider and give effect to the decisions of the Executive Committee and to present to it recommendations for any activity which may be deemed necessary or expedient.

Article XI: Rights and Priveleges of Members | Back to Top

The rights of members shall be as determined from time to time by the Executive Committee provided that

  1. No member in good financial standing shall be deprived of the right of speaking and voting at any meetings.

  2. CBO Members are entitled to one vote each.

  3. Honorary Members shall not be entitled to vote or to hold office in the Association, but shall have a voice at General Meetings.

Article XII: Ammendment | Back to Top

These articles shall not be amended or rescinded except by a special resolution passed at a General Meeting of the Association by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Members present. A special resolution is one of which at least fourteen (14) days’ notice of intention to propose the same has been given to the General Secretary of the Association. The General Secretary must notify every member of the notice of such proposal within seven (7) days of its receipt.

Article XIII: Banking Finance and Accounts | Back to Top

  1. The bankers of the Association shall be determined from time to time by the Executive Committee.

  2. All moneys received by the Treasurer shall be forthwith lodged to an account with such financial institution(s) as may be determined by the Executive Committee.

  3. Such accounts shall be operated under the signatures of the Officers in the categories identified in Article IX (f).

  4. The Financial Year of the Association shall be from July 1st to June 30th.

  5. The Association shall keep books of accounts in a manner approved by the Executive Committee.

Article XIV: Audit | Back to Top

  1. An auditor who may be a member of the Association but not a member of the Executive Committee shall audit the books of the Association. The Auditor shall be appointed at each Annual General Meeting of the Association, to hold office for one (1) year.

  2. The Auditor shall audit the books of the Association and submit the report to the General Secretary at least fourteen (14) days before the date fixed for the holding of the Annual General Meeting.

  3. The Report of the Auditor shall be presented at each Annual General Meeting.

Article XV: Bye-laws | Back to Top

The Executive Committee may make bye-laws to govern their procedure providing that such bye-laws are approved by a General meeting and do not in any way conflict with the Articles of this Constitution.

Article XVI: Dissolution | Back to Top

  1. The Association shall be dissolved upon a resolution adopted at a Special Meeting called for that purpose.

  2. If upon the dissolution of the Association there remains, after the satisfaction of its debts and liabilities, any property whatever, the same shall be disposed of to some institution or Association in Trinidad and Tobago having similar aims and objectives as the Association.

  3. The Executive Committee shall, before such dissolution, decide upon the particular institution or association which shall be the beneficiary of such property or refer the matter to the Registrar of the Supreme Court who may thereafter make application to the Supreme Court for such disposal of the property.