CARICOM Nationals

(1) The Board shall, in making a recommendation to the Council under section 13 (2) (a) of this Act, recognise any qualification recognised and approved by the Council of Human and Social Development and the holder of such qualification shall not submit to the examination referred to in section13 (2) (b) of this Act. (2) A person who is a national of a CARICOM Member State is qualified to be registered as a professional architect under section 13 (4) (a) of this Act if, 18 (Registration) (a) the person possesses the qualifications set out in section 13 (5) of this Act; or (b) the person possesses qualifications recognised and approved by the Council for Human and Social Development. (3) Where in this Act any restriction is placed on admission to registration as a professional architect, or on admission to the categories of professional architects, or on the practice of the profession of professional architecture, such restriction shall apply equally without discrimination to citizens of Belize and to nationals of CARICOM Member States. (4) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, but subject to this Act, a national of a CARICOM Member State who is registered as a professional architect shall have the right to enter, reside in and work as a professional architect in Belize without the requirement of obtaining a work permit, a visa or other immigration permit. (Registration) 19 SCHEDULE PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTS (REGISTRATION) ACT Constitution of the Association of Professional Architects of Belize (Section 23) ARTICLE I Name of Association The name of the association shall be the Association of Professional Architects of Belize. ARTICLE II Objectives of the Association The objects and purposes for which the Association of Professional Architects of Belize (hereinafter called “the Association”) is hereby constituted are, (i) to promote and encourage the general advancement of the professions of Professional Architecture and Allied Professions (hereinafter called “the professions”); (ii) to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas among the members of the Association; (iii) to provide a means of evaluating the development of professional skills Professional Architects 20 (Registration) among members of the professions and to provide professional status to those members of the professions who have exemplified themselves as worthy of such status in accordance with the terms and conditions laid down by this Constitution and its By- laws; (iv) to regulate the conduct of members of the Association such as to encourage the application of the highest standards of excellence in the performance of services and in the ethics of the professions; (v) to implement standards in the practice of the professions and instil a conscious recognition of the professions’ obligation to society; and (vi) to seek, for the protection and benefit of society, legislation for mandatory registration of architects to practice in Belize. ARTICLE III Membership Subject to the provisions of the Act, membership in the Association shall be open to qualified professional architects. The membership of the Association shall consist of, (a) Honorary Members; (b) Corporate Members; Professional Architects (Registration) 21 (c) Associate Members; (d) Affiliate Members; and (e) Student Members. (a). Honorary Members. Honorary Members shall comprise every person who has been elected into the class of Honorary Member so long as his name is on the Register as such. They shall be either distinguished persons who from their position have been or are able to render assistance in the execution of public works, or persons eminent in science and experienced in pursuits connected with the professions but who are not engaged in the practice of the professions. (b). Corporate Members. Every candidate for election or transfer to the class of Corporate Member shall be a person, who in the opinion of the Council, has by his achievements acquired an established reputation and whose admission as a Corporate Member will be in the interest of the Association. In addition he shall either, (a) (i) hold a degree, diploma or an equivalent award in Professional Architecture or an Allied Profession, from a University or place of learning at which the syllabus for the particular field is approved by the Board; and (ii) have at least four years practical experience after graduation of a Professional Architects 22 (Registration) nature acceptable to the Council, under the guidance and supervision of a Corporate Member, or a Corporate Member of a like society of international repute, who is prepared to vouch for the experience gained; or (b) be a Corporate Member of a Society similarly constituted which is approved by the Council and has had practical experience in Belize for a period of not less than two years. (c). Associate Members. Every candidate for election to the class of Associate Member shall be a person whose admission will, in the opinion of the Council, be in the interest of the Association. In addition, he shall hold a degree, diploma or equivalent award in Professional Architecture or an allied Profession from a University or place of learning at which the syllabus for the particular field is approved by the Board. (d). Affiliate Members. Every candidate for election to the class of Affiliate Member shall be a person whose admission will, in the opinion of the Council, be in the interest of the Association and who has attained a position in his special pursuit qualifying him to cooperate with other members in the advancement of professional knowledge and practice. In addition, he shall either, (a) hold a degree, diploma, or equivalent award in Professional Architecture, or allied Professions, and shall have a desire to be actively associated with the Association; or Professional Architects (Registration) 23 (b) if he does not possess the academic qualification, he shall be more than thirty years of age, and shall have held a position of responsibility related to the profession represented for a period of not less than ten years. (e). Student Members. Every candidate for the election to the class of Student Member shall be a person who, at the time of his application, shall be actively pursuing a course of studies leading to an academic qualification acceptable to the Board. No person shall remain in this grade for more than 10 years. ARTICLE IV Admission, Expulsion and Retirement 1. Candidates shall be admitted to membership in the Association only by the Council. A candidate elected shall be admitted as a Corporate Member, Associate Member, Affiliate Member or Student Member, as the case may be, on payment of such entrance fee or instalment and annual subscription as the By-laws may prescribe. Should payment of such dues not be made within the period of three calendar months after the date of notification to the candidate of his election, such election may be declared null and void by the Council and the candidate shall be notified accordingly. 2. The Council in accordance with the By-laws may expel any member who shall have wilfully acted in contravention of the By-laws and/or Code of Professional Conduct of the Association, or who, in the opinion of the Council, shall have been guilty of such conduct as shall render him unfit to continue to belong to the Association, and he shall thereupon cease to be an Honorary Member, Corporate Member, Professional Architects 24 (Registration) Associate Member, Affiliate Member or Student Member (as the case may be) of the Association. 3. Any member of any class may retire from the Association by sending his resignation in writing to the Secretary, after payment of all subscriptions due from him, including for that current year. ARTICLE V Fees and Dues An entrance fee in an amount determined by the Council for the class of membership to which the candidate is elected shall be due and payable as of the date of election to that class. The schedules of entrance fees and annual dues shall be established, and when established may be modified by a two thirds favourable vote of the Council. The schedule of fees and dues shall be set forth in the By-laws. ARTICLE VI Nomination and Election of Officers 1. The officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. 2. The Council shall consist of the President, Vice- President, Secretary, Treasurer and two other members. All members of the Council shall be Corporate Members. 3. The term of office of all elected officers shall be two years and the conditions of eligibility for re-election to the same office or any other office shall be as specified in the By- laws. A term of office shall begin at the close of the Annual Professional Architects (Registration) 25 General Meeting at which the Officer’s election is announced and shall continue until a successor is elected. 4. Vacancies in the offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Members of Council shall, subject to the provisions of the By-laws, be filled annually by a ballot of members of the Association. 5. In the case of disability of any other officer of the Association, or neglect in performance of his duties, the Council shall have power to declare the office vacant. ARTICLE VII Management 1. The Council shall direct and manage the property and affairs of the Association in accordance with the Regulations and the By-laws of the Association and may exercise all such powers of the Association except those required to be exercised by the Association in General Meeting. 2. The detailed management of the affairs of the Association shall be exercised by the Secretary acting as general manager under authority of the Council. ARTICLE VIII Meetings 1. General Meetings of the Association shall be held at such places and at such times as the Council may appoint. 2. The meetings of the Association shall be as follows, (a) Ordinary Meetings for the reading and discussion of papers, for lectures and Professional Architects 26 (Registration) discussions, and for visits to works of interest; (b) the Annual General Meetings; and (c) Special General Meetings. 3. All members shall be entitled to vote at the meetings specified in paragraph 2 of this Article, and each voting member shall have one vote. 4. In addition to the Ordinary Meetings specified by paragraph 2 (a), the Council may at their discretion arrange for other meetings to be held for the dissemination of knowledge by means of lectures or cinematograph, slide show or other pictorial representations, or for the discussion of papers; and the Council shall determine the conditions of admission to such meetings, and the manner in which they shall be conducted. 5. The Ordinary Meetings of the Association shall be conducted as prescribed by the Council from time to time and the Council shall determine the conditions of admission to such meetings. 6. At the Ordinary Meetings no question shall be discussed or motion made, relating to the direction and management of the Association. 7. Every member of any class shall have the privilege of introducing one or more visitors at each Ordinary Meeting of the Association, by writing his or their names in the book provided for that purpose. 8. The Annual General Meeting shall be held in the month of June or at such earlier time as the Council may determine. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to Professional Architects (Registration) 27 receive and consider the Report of the Council and the Accounts of the Association for the past year, to elect officers, and (with the approval of the Council) to transact any other business of which notice in writing shall have been given to the Secretary at least seven days before such meeting. 9. A Special General Meeting may be called at any time by the Council for any specific purpose relating to the direction and management of the affairs of the Association or for amending the Constitution or any By-laws of the Association and the Council shall at all times call such meeting on a requisition of five members specifying the nature of the business to be transacted. ARTICLE IX Organization 1. In pursuance of the objects of the Association, the Council may at their discretion set up one or more committees of the Association as they may specify, for the holding of meetings, the reading of papers and for the discussion of subjects or for other activities falling within the purview of the Association, and the Council may dissolve any such committee at any time. 2. The Council may form such Branches and/or Divisions as may seem to them necessary in order to meet the needs of groups of members. The continuance of such Branches and/or Divisions and the terms of their relationship with the Council, and the rules under which they operate, shall be as the Council may determine under the By-laws. Professional Architects 28 (Registration) ARTICLE X Amendments 1. A proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be submitted to the Secretary in written petitions signed by not less than five members of the Association. Counterparts of petitions may be signed and presented with the same effect as if the signature were on one petition. 2. Petitions for a proposed amendment shall be presented to the Secretary not less than twenty-eight days in advance of the date of the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting. A proposed amendment in accordance with the intent of the petitions shall be drafted by the Secretary and sent by letter to the members of the Association at least fourteen days in advance of the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting. The proposed amendment shall be presented for discussion at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting and may be amended in any manner pertinent to the petitions by two-thirds vote, Provided that, if the meeting shall so decide by majority vote, it may refer the proposed amendment to a committee for further consideration and a report at the next Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting. 3. In a similar manner, amendments to the By-laws of the Association may be proposed but only at the Special General Meeting convened for that purpose. Such amendments shall only be regarded as approved by the Association, if two-thirds or more of the members present in person or by proxy at such Special General Meeting vote in favour of such amendment. Professional Architects (Registration) 29 ARTICLE XI Incorporation of Kindred Societies The Council may, upon receipt of a request to the effect, from any Society with objects kindred to those of the Association, arrange for the union, alliance or incorporation of such Society with the Association and may also remit or reduce the entrance fees of the members of such Society at the time of their union, alliance or incorporation, Provided that no such union, alliance or incorporation shall be effective unless it is sanctioned by a Special General Meeting.