Livestock and Livestock Products Board Act, 1997 (No. 40 of 1997)

Legal Supplement Part A to the "Trinidad and Tobago Gazette", Vol. 36, No. 255, 31st December, 1997 Second Session Fifth Parliament Republic of Trinidad and Tobago REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Act No .. 40 of 1997 [L.S.J AN AcT to establish the Livestock and Livestock Products Board and for matters incidental thereto. [Assented to 27th November, 1997] ENACTED by the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago as Enactment follows: !. This Act may be cited as the Livestock andshorttitle Livestock Products Board Act, 1997. Interpretation Establishment of Board Membership of Board 2. In this Act "B o a rd" means the Board established by section 3; "livestock industry'' includes the poultry sub sector; "member" means a member of the Board appointed under section 4; "Minister" means the Minister to whom responsibility for agriculture is assigned. 3. There is hereby established, a Board to be known as the Livestock and Livestock Products Board having the general duty to promote greater efficiency in the livestock industry and the livestock products industry, and to perform the particular functions specified in section 6. 4. (1) The Board shall be appointed by the Minister and shall consist of seven Members of whom ( a) one shall represent the Ministry responsible for Agriculture; (b) one shall be nominated by the Tobago House of Assembly; (c) one shall represent the meat-processing sub-sector after the Minister consults with the sub-sector; ( d) one shall represent the small ruminants sub-sector after the Minister consults with the sub-sector; (e) one shall represent the dairy sub-sector after the Minister consults with the sub sector; (f) one shall represent the port sub-sector after the Minister consults with the sub sector; (g) one shall represent the poultry sub-sector after the Minister consults with the sub sector. (2) The Minister shall appoint a Chairman from the members of the Board and the appointment of the Chairman or of a member shall, subject to subsection (3), be for such period as may be specified in the instrument of appointment. (3) Subject to subsection (5) ( a) the Chairman may at any time resign his office by notice in writing addressed to the Minister; (b) a member may at any time resign his office by notice in writing addressed to the Chairman. (4) Resignation shall take effect on the date of the receipt of the written notice by the Minister or the Chairman. (5) Subsection (3) does not apply to the member referred to in subsection (l)(a). (6) The appointment and termination of office of every member shall be notified in the Gazette. 5. (1) The Board shall meet at least once everyProcedureand th r th · f ·t b • d . meetings oflhe mon 1or e transact10n o 1 s us1ness an meetmgs Board shall be held at such place and time and on such days as the Board determines. (2) The Chairman may at any time call a special meeting of the Board and shall, within seven days of his receipt of a requisition in writing addressed to him by four or more members, summon a special meeting to consider the matters contained in the requisition. (3) The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board and in his absence from any meeting, the members present shall elect one of their number to preside at that meeting. Functions of th c Board (4) Where the Chairman is unable to perform the functions of his office owing to his absence from Trinidad and Tobago or to inability for any reason, the Minister may appoint a member to act as Chairman during the time such absence or inability continues. (5) Where a member of the Board is appointed to act as Chairman under subsection (4) or is unable to perform the functions of his office owing to absence from Trinidad and Tobago or to inability for any reason, the Minister may appoint some other person to act as a temporary member during the time such appointment to act as Chairman, absence or inability continues. (6) The Chairman or in his absence the member elected to preside under subsection (3) and three other members shall form a quorum. (7) Minutes in proper form shall be kept by the Chairman and shall be confirmed as soon as practicable thereafter at a subsequent meeting and certified copies of the minutes when so confirmed shall be forwarded to the Minister within the prescribed period. (8) The Board may co-opt any one or more persons to attend any particular meeting for the purpose of assisting or advising the Board, but no such co-opted person shall have any right to vote. (9) Subject to this section, the Board has power to regulate its own proceedings. 6. The functions of the Board are ( a) to administer, on behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago any programmes supportive of the livestock industry; (b) to promote and guide the formation of co-operatives within the livestock industry; (c) to collect, store and disseminate data and information on the activities of the livestock industry; (d) to monit~r problems affecting production and marketing with a view to making appropriate representation to the relevant authorities; (e) to provide a forum for communication among farmers in the livestock industry; (f) to maintain a register of Ii vestock producers and processors; (g) to advise and influence policy-makers in the best interest of the livestock industry; (h) to identify research and development and training needs and provide development opportunities for the livestock industry; (i) to establish and operate auction yards to facilitate the sale of animals; (j) to set quality guidelines for the sale of livestock and livestock products. 7. The Board has power to do all things necessary or Gener,il powers convenient to be done for or in connection with the performance of its functions. 8. (1) The financial year of the Board shall be the Financial year and • Report of Activities twelve-month period endmg 30th September. (2) The Board shall, within three months of the end of each financial year, make a report of its activities during that year to the Minister .. 9. (1) The Board shall keep proper accounts andAccountsandaudit other records in relation to its functions and shall prepare annually, a statement of its accounts. (2) The accounts of the Board shall be audited by auditors to be appointed annually by the Board. (3) As soon as possible, and in any case not later than six months after the termination of each financial year, the Board shall submit an annual report to the Minister in such a form as the Minister may prescribe. (4) The report shall include a balance sheet, such other statements as the Minister may from time to time require and the annual report of the auditor appointed in accordance with subsection (2). (5) The Minister shall lay the annual report before Parliament ( a) within fourteen days of receiving it; or (b) where Parliament is not then in session, within fourteen days of the commencement of the next session. Regulations 10. The Minister may make Regulations governing any matter to be prescribed under this Act or respecting any matter necessary or convenient to carry out effectively, the intent and purpose of this Act. Commencement 11. This Act comes into force on a date to be proclaimed by the President. Passed in the Senate this 21st day of October, 1997. N. COX Clerk of the Senate Passed in the House of Representatives this 6th day of November, 1997. J. SAMPSON Clerk of the House