“Persona non grata” is a Latin phrase which is generally used in the diplomatic community worldwide to define
“an unwelcome person”
The incumbent Central Executive at an unconstitutional Extra Ordinary General Meeting, held on Tuesday July 15th 2014, [there was no quorum of 60% of the financial membership present as stated in the Constitution – Article 7 Part A Section IV] accepted a motion and allowed the casting of votes to declare the New Visionaries – their challengers in the deferred 2012 elections as “persona non grata”.
Fifty nine [59] persons were registered as attending the meeting.
Sunday May 25th 2014: Continuation of the 2013 AGM: Discussion of 2013 Audited Financial Report – This meeting was adjourned from previous attempts to convene on January 9th [accounts were received from the Auditors on January 8th] and April 6th – there was no quorum.
After adoption of the financial report, the Vice President, speaking on behalf of the Central Executive, accused the New Visionaries of bringing the organization into disrepute based on two incidents
a. A letter [on the letterhead of the New Visionaries] sent to the Chairman of the NCC regarding 2013 Steelfest
b. Communication/correspondence to NIU [Northern Illinois University] asking them not to have any dealings with the incumbent members of the Central Executive.
In relation to [a]: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 19 – “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. This Right includes Freedom to hold Opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impact information through ANY media and regardless of frontiers”
In relation to [b]: George David Goddard wrote the letter to NIU. In fact a letter dated Tuesday May 27th was sent to the President of Pan Trinbago exonerating the directors of the New Visionaries.
Three motions were tabled in this meeting [1] Member bands of the New Visionaries would be written to within 14 days regarding the incidents – vote by majority [2] Existing vacancies on the Central Executive be filled in the interim – voted for by majority [3] reduce the quorum from 60% - President stated that this was a constitutional amendment – bands would have to be notified in writing and an Extra Ordinary Meeting called.
This meeting concluded at 3:40pm. There was no motion for adjournment or continuation of this meeting.
When the motion was stated at the Extra Ordinary General meeting [July 15th], the President was questioned about the constitutional requirement of the quorum of 60%. He stated that this meeting was a continuation of the May 25th meeting and no quorum was required. The notice to bands stated that it was an Extra Ordinary General Meeting.
We are witnessing the death of democracy and the rise of a dictatorship in Pan Trinbago.
The New Visionaries have no doubt that the present group running the affairs of Pan Trinbago are desperate to avoid an election, and are prepared to do anything to prevent it. We shall not be deterred, and are prepared to take all appropriate steps to ensure that this organization is rescued from their clutches, and set on a true democratic path to efficiency, good management, transparency, and financial accountability, where the interests of all steel bands will become the priority. No attempts to violate the constitution, so that more court matters will arise, will be allowed to stop the elections that are coming.
Replies
With all due respect, I find that the NV are playing too much defense, I understand that going on the offensive could be costly but you can't just sit and wait to see what next PT are going to hit you with.
We must understand that their lawyers are looking for every and anything to tie you up in court, you all have to come up with something to counter their plan.
Might I suggest you go after them for financing their fight against the NV with PT funds. Let the courts find out what kind of arrangement they have for paying their legal bill. The NV fight is not against PT but it's executives, does the executives have a bank account? this is clearly a case of misappropriation of PT funds.
The executive of PanTrinbago has no long term plan, at this point they will settle for panorama to panorama and we all could figure out what kind of a pay day these people have after each season.