CONSTITUTION
OF THE
SEYCHELLES BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION
Article 1
1.1 NAME OF THE ASSOCIATION
1.1.1 The name of the Association shall be – SEYCHELLES BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION – abbreviated to ‘S.B.S.A’.
1.1.2 It shall be an independent Non-Governmental Body.
1.2 PLACE OF BUSINESS
1.2.1 Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
1.3 SCOPE
1.3.1 Applies to Biomedical Laboratory technicians and technologists.
1.4 DEFINITIONS
1.4.1 “Code of Ethics” – An approved set of rules to be followed by members of the association.
1.4.2 “Standards of Practice” – An approved set of practices to be adhered to by members of the association.
Article 2
2.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION
2.1.1. To maintain, promote, advocate and safeguard the interests of its members.
2.1.2. To promote and ensure that a high standard of biomedical laboratory services are provided and sustained in the Seychelles.
2.1.3. To propose standards of quality assurance of biomedical laboratory services and techniques in Seychelles to safeguard the interests of the patient.
2.1.4. To ensure respect for the Biomedical Laboratory Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
2.1.5. To promote the continuous professional development, and related interests of its members in all Biomedical Laboratory fields.
2.1.6. To be associated with Biomedical Laboratory bodies internationally for the purpose of furthering the objectives of the association.
2.1.7. To promote and disseminate Biomedical Laboratory education and knowledge.
2.1.8. To generate, manage and invest the SBSA fund.
2.1.9. To uphold the laws and regulations relating to the Biomedical Laboratory fields and to propose amendments to current laws and regulations.
2.1.10. To provide a means of communication and free exchange of information among members.
2.1.11. To promote constant dialogue between its members, Government and Agencies.
2.1.12. To defend the legal rights of the members.
Article 3
3.1 MEMBERSHIP
3.1.1 Membership of the association shall be open to all persons meeting the requirements for registration.
3.2 APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
3.2.1 An application for membership shall be submitted to the Executive Committee in the prescribed form and shall be accompanied by a non-refundable application fee.
3.2.2 The Executive Committee reserves the right to either approve or reject an application for membership.
3.3 MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES
3.3.1. Full membership
3.3.2. Associate membership
3.3.3. Student membership
3.3.4. Honorary membership
3.3.5. Emeritus membership
3.4 REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DIFFERENT MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES
3.4.1 FULL MEMBERSHIP
3.4.1.1 Applies to Laboratory Technicians/Technologists registered to work in Seychelles.
3.4.2 ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
3.4.2.1 Applies to Laboratory Technicians/Technologists not registered to work but who resides in Seychelles.
3.4.3 STUDENT MEMBERSHIP
3.4.3.1 Applies to students undertaking Biomedical Laboratory studies overseas or locally.
3.5 HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
3.5.1 Applies to any person who is not a Biomedical Laboratory Technician/Technologist, but who may, in the opinion of the General Assembly of the SBSA, have distinguished themselves through outstanding service in the Biomedical Laboratory field.
3.5.2 Honorary members shall have none of the liabilities of the member with regards to subscriptions and fees, and shall have the privileges as may be conferred upon them by resolution of the electing authority.
3.5.3 An honorary member shall cease to be such a member upon resolution of the General Assembly.
3.6 EMERITUS MEMBERSHIP
3.6.1 Applies to any person who was a Biomedical Laboratory Technician/Technologist, and who may, in the opinion of the General Assembly of the SBSA, have distinguished themselves through outstanding service in the Biomedical Laboratory field.
3.6.2 Emeritus members shall have none of the liabilities of the member with regards to subscriptions and fees, and shall have the privileges as may be conferred upon them by resolution of the electing authority.
3.6.3 An emeritus member shall cease to be such a member upon resolution of the General Assembly.
Article 4
4.1 ROLE OF THE MEMBERS
4.1.1. To abide to the Biomedical Laboratory Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
4.1.2. To respect the Constitution of the SBSA.
4.1.3. To abide to the decisions of the SBSA.
4.1.4. To ensure active participation, promotion and development of the Association.
Article 5
5.1 TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
5.1.1 Membership shall be terminated in any of the following circumstances.
5.1.1.1. Failure to abide to the member roles or if a member commits professional misconduct.
5.1.1.2. In such cases, the Executive Committee shall submit a proposal for termination and must have the approval of 60 % of full members present at the General Assembly meeting.
5.1.1.3. Voting should be done by secret ballot.
5.1.1.4. Failure to pay the membership fee within 3 months of the due date shall result in termination of membership, however, this does not apply to a member who is absent from the country for a period of more than 3 months.
5.1.1.5. Voluntary termination by a member has to be submitted in writing to the Chairperson of the SBSA.
5.1.1.6. Membership fee shall not be re-imbursed upon termination.
5.1.1.7. Members whose membership has been terminated under Article 5.1.1.4 may be re-admitted as a member upon payment of the membership fee which was due.
Article 6
6.1 MEMBERSHIP FEES
6.1.1. An annual membership fee shall be paid by all members, except Honorary and Emeritus members.
6.1.2. The amount to be paid by each category of member shall be determined by the Executive Committee with the approval of 2/3 majority of the General Assembly.
6.1.3. The membership fee is due within 1st March to 1st June of each calendar year.
Article 7
7.1 COMPOSITION OF SBSA
7.1.1. General Assembly (Ordinary Members)
7.1.2. An Executive Committee
7.2 THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
7.2.1. Shall be composed of:
7.2.1.1. Chairperson
7.2.1.2. Secretary
7.2.1.3. Treasurer
7.2.1.4. Seven Ordinary Members
7.2.2. The Executive Committee shall be elected for a period of two years and shall meet at least once every three months.
7.2.3. Membership on the Executive Committee shall be limited to full members.
Article 8
8.1 POWERS AND PROCEDURES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND ITS MEMBERS
8.1.1. The Executive Committee shall:
8.1.1.1. Manage both the legal and financial affairs of the Association.
8.1.1.2. Represent the Association vis-á-vis other authorities.
8.1.1.3. Assess application for membership.
8.1.1.4. Ensure the aims and objectives of the Association are fulfilled.
8.1.1.5. Ensure that its Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice are respected.
8.1.1.6. Submit an Annual Report of the SBSA activities to members of the Association.
8.1.1.7. Perform any other activities to advance the objectives of the SBSA.
8.1.1.8. Undertake management of the Funds of SBSA:
i. Employ the funds of the Association in such a manner as shall be deemed necessary by consensus of the Executive Committee.
ii. Solicit, receive, accept and refuse subscriptions and donations of all kinds whether absolute or conditional for the purpose of the Association or associated with professional practice of the members.
8.1.1.9. Propose to the General Assembly the Association’s auditors, and ensure that the Association’s accounts are audited annually.
8.1.1.10. Ensure that books and accounts of the Association are open for inspection by the Association’s members during a reasonable time.
8.1.1.11. Propose to the General Assembly, disciplinary measures against members.
8.1.1.12. Shall approve members of proposed and future committees as and when the need arises.
Article 9
9.1 ELECTION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
9.1.1. Full members only shall be entitled to vote.
9.1.2. Full members only shall qualify to stand for election.
9.1.3. The election shall be held every two years.
9.1.4. The Executive Committee shall be elected by 60 % of majority of full paying members present and voting.
Article 10
10.1 THE CHAIRPERSON
10.1.1. The Chairperson shall:
10.1.1.1. Be a qualified Biomedical Laboratory Technician/Technologist.
10.1.1.2. Chair all meetings conducted by both the Executive Committee and the General Assembly.
10.1.1.3. Represent the Executive Committee and the SBSA vis-à-vis other organisations and authorities.
10.1.1.4. Be the Association’s Chief Spokesperson
10.1.1.5. Be a signatory of all the Association’s accounts.
10.1.1.6. Be the general overseer of all the Association’s affairs.
10.1.1.7. Direct office bearers to perform their duties on behalf of the Association as necessary.
10.1.1.8. In the event of absence of the Chairperson, the Executive Committee shall appoint another person to act as Chairperson, and that person will have the same powers as the Chairperson and shall relinquish duties upon resumption of elected Chairperson.
10.2 THE SECRETARY
10.2.1. The Secretary shall:
10.2.1.1. Record the Association’s minutes and proceedings during all meetings.
10.2.1.2. Circulate copies of all relevant and important documents to each member.
10.2.1.3. Sign all documents of the SBSA.
10.2.1.4. Notify each member of any meeting or any other gathering organised by the Association.
10.2.1.5. Be a signatory to all Association’s accounts.
10.2.1.6. Establish an organising committee responsible for all meeting and gatherings as well as fund generating activities.
10.3 THE TREASURER
10.3.1. The Treasurer shall:
10.3.1.1. Be in charge of the Association’s finances, properties and assets.
10.3.1.2. Advise the Chairperson and the Executive Committee on matters relating to funds.
10.3.1.3. Produce, for inspection of members and authorised person, all records pertaining to financial transactions.
10.3.1.4. Keep all the Association’s financial records.
10.3.1.5. Produce at each meeting a report of the Association’s property, assets and liabilities.
10.3.1.6. Be a signatory to all the Association’s accounts.
10.3.1.7. Collect and bank annual subscription fees, donations and proceeds of fund raising.
Article 11
11.1 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11.1.1. The General Assembly shall:
11.1.1.1. Meet at least once a year.
11.1.1.2. Receive, adopt and reject a financial report from the Treasurer at the Ordinary General Assembly meeting.
11.1.1.3. Elect the Executive Committee.
11.1.1.4. Discuss and approve budget estimates for the year.
11.1.1.5. Approve any changes to the Constitution.
11.1.1.6. Approve removal of membership, and where a member has resigned or been dismissed from the Association, consider new applications for membership.
11.1.1.7. Appoint, when necessary, an audit committee from the General Assembly to investigate the Association’s funds.
11.1.1.8. Appoint or terminate the appointment of the Association’s auditor.
Article 12
12.1 MEETINGS
12.1.1. The secretary of the Association shall issue written invitations for any meeting at least three weeks in advance.
12.1.2. The venue of the meeting shall be decided upon by the Chairperson in consultation with other members of the Executive Committee.
12.1.3. The quorum of the meeting of the General Assembly shall not be less than 52 % of the full members.
12.1.4. The quorum of the Executive Committee shall not be less than 6 persons.
12.1.5. An Extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly can be called by the Executive Committee, or at the request in writing of not less than 15 full members. Such a request should be complied with within a period of one month.
Article 13
13.1ELECTIONS AND VOTES
13.1.1. Elections shall be by secret ballot.
13.1.2. Only full members have voting rights and these can be exercised in person only.
13.1.3. There will be only one vote per member.
13.1.4. The Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer may only hold the office for 2 consecutive terms and for 5 non-consecutive terms.
13.1.5. If any voting, whether in General Assembly or in the Executive Committee is tied, the Chairperson shall have the casting vote.
13.1.6. Before election for the office bearers takes place, the incumbents shall resign with the exception of the Chairperson, who shall oversee all electoral procedures in accordance with this article.
Article 14
14.1DURATION IN OFFICE
14.1.1. All Committees are elected or appointed for a two year term with the right to be re-elected for only two consecutive terms.
14.1.2. If for any reason a member of the Executive Committee is unable to continue their duty, then the Executive Committee in consultation with the General Assembly shall appoint a new member.
14.1.3. A new election must then be organised to be held no later than one month from the date the position became vacant.
Article 15
15.1AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
15.1.1. Any member of the SBSA may submit in writing a proposal to amend the Constitution of the Association to the Chairperson.
15.1.2. The proposal shall be presented to the General Assembly by the Chairperson for debate and vote.
15.1.3. The Constitution may only be amended by not less than 2/3 of the majority of the full members present at the General Assembly.
Article 16
16.1DISSOLUTION OF THE SBSA
16.1.1. The Association can be dissolved by a resolution to that effect signed by not less than 2/3 of full members.
16.1.2. The Association ceases to exist, if for any reason, the number of full members is less than ten.
16.1.3. Remaining funds in the Association account shall be given to a chosen charitable health related organisation.
Article 17
17.1 LEGAL MATTERS
17.1.1. The Association shall be registered according to the LAWS of the REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES.
17.2 INSPECTION OF RECORDS
17.2.1. The records of the proceedings of the Executive Committee and those of the General Assembly, the audited accounts of the Association and the records containing the names of the members of the Association shall be open for inspection by the members of the Association during such time and at such place which the Executive Committee may from time to time notify the members.
17.3 APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
17.3.1. The Executive Committee shall cause accounts and financial records of the Association to be audited by an auditor appointed by the members at the Association’s Annual General Meeting.
Article 18
18.1PUBLICATIONS
18.1.1. The SBSA shall publish a newsletter at least once a year.
18.1.2. For the purpose of said publication, an Editorial Board consisting of at least 4 members shall be established.
18.1.3. The Chairperson and members of the Editorial Board shall be appointed by the General Assembly.
18.1.4. The Editorial Board shall promote the Association’s activities and objectives through publications.
