NDC administration dissolves a perpetual board

by Linda Straker

• Carriacou and Petite Martinique Festivals Board established in 2015
• Board dissolved effective 18 July 2022
• Notice dated 11 August published in 16 September issue of Government Gazette

The Dickon Mitchell administration has dissolved a Board that the Interpretation and General Provisions Act says “shall have perpetual succession.”

A notice in the 16 September issue of the Government Gazette signed by Javan F Williams, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and Local Government said, “The Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and Local Government hereby advise that with the guidance stated in the Carriacou and Petite Martinique Festival Act 2015, the Carriacou and Petite Martinique Board is dissolved effective 18 July 2022.” The notice had 11 August 2022 as its signed date.

However, the letter sent to Board members dated 22 July with the subject reference of, “Dissolution of the Carriacou and Petite Martinique Festival Boards and its Secretariat,” informed them that a Cabinet conclusion of 18 July revoked the appointment of the current board members.

James “Skylark” Stafford who was the Chairman of the Carriacou and Petite Martinique Festival Board voluntarily resigned from that post following the 23 June General Elections.

The Carriacou and Petite Martinique Festivals Board was established in 2015 after both Houses of Parliament approved the Carriacou and Petite Martinique Festivals Bill. The legislation says it “shall be the sole body responsible for the management and control of public festivals in, within, and unique to Carriacou and Petite Martinique.”

The legislation also states that the Festivals Board shall be a body corporate to which section 49 of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, Chapter 153 shall apply. That section of the legislation says among other things that “Where, by or under any written law enacted after thecommencement of this Act, a body corporate is constituted or established, then, such body corporate shall have perpetual succession and a common seal.

The Festivals Board, according to the legislation shall consist of:

1. a Chairperson;
2. a Police Officer not below the rank of Inspector;
3. an Attorney-at-Law with no less than 5 years standing;
4. one person nominated from each appointed committee responsible for a public festival.
5. three persons qualified in one or more of the following areas —

1. 1. business and financial management;
   2. human resource management;
   3. marketing and advertising; and
   4. public relations;

6. a representative of the Grenada Cultural Foundation;
7. a representative of the Grenada Tourism Authority; and
8. the Executive Director, who shall be an ex-officio member and the secretary to the Festivals Board.