South Pacific Commission and South Pacific Air Transport Council 599 be freed from import duties within a five-year grace period reckoned from 1ts May 1968 for the more developed countries and a ten-year period for the less developed members. In addition, the less developed members will have the right of appeal for an extension beyond the ten-year period in cases where it can be established that serious injury would be done to a particular industry. EASTERN CARIBBEAN COMMON MARKET This Common Market was set up in June 1968 between the Governments represented on the West Indies (Associated States) Council of Ministers. The Secretariat is provided by the Secretariat of the Council of the West Indies (Associated States) Council of Ministers in St Lucia. The objectives of the Common Market are to promote among its Member States the harmonious development of economic activities and expansion by the facilitation of the maximum possible inter-change of goods and services by the progressive elimination of customs duties and quantitative restrictions on the import and export of goods, the establishment of common customs tariffs and commercial and fiscal policies, and the abolition of obstacles to the free movement of persons, services and capital between the Member States. THE WEST INDIES SHIPPING SERVICE The West Indies Shipping Corporation Act, 1961, established a Shipping Corporation to operate and maintain a regular shipping service between the territories of the then Federation of the West Indies, using two ships donated by the Canadian Government. ‹ On_the_break-up of the Federation in 1962 it was agreed that the Service should be continued under the policy direction of a Regional Shipping Council, on which were represented the Governments of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and the Leeward and Windward Islands. Guyana has subsequently acceded to membership of this body. The headquarters of the Shipping Council are in Trinidad. SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC AIR TRANSPORT COUNCIL SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION A regional Commission for the South Pacific was established in 1947 (Cmnd 8539) by agreement between the Governments of Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. An amending Agreement, signed on 2nd October 1964, provided for the Independent State of Western Samoa and any other territory which becomes independent and was within the Commission's scope immediately before independence, to become a participating member of the Commission and remain within its scope if it wishes and is invited to do so by the participating Governments. The Netherlands ceased to be a participating Government on 31st December 1962 and various other changes were made in the Agreement as a result. Nauru became a participating member in 1969. U 600 South Pacific Commission and South Pacific Air Transport Council The Commission is a consultative and advisory body to the participating Governments in matters affecting the economic and social development of nonself-governing territories in the South Pacific region, and is able to provide advice, training facilities etc. to these territories and to any which become 'participating Governments' under the amending agreement of 2nd October 1964. The Commission's work is financed mainly by contributions from the participating governments. Annual sessions of the Commission are held at its headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia, and are preceded by annual meetings of the South Pacific Conference, comprising territorial delegates, which advises the Commission on the framing of the Annual budget and work programme. The United Kingdom Senior Commissioner is J. C. Morgan, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Secretary-General is Sir Gawain Bell, Noumea, New Caledonia. SOUTH PACIFIC AIR TRANSPORT COUNCIL The Council is ancillary to the Commonwealth Air Transport Council (q.v.) and was set up as a result of recommendations of a Civil Aviation Conference held in Wellington in 1946. The Permanent Chairman of the Council is the Australian Minister responsible for Civil Aviation and the Secretariat is in Melbourne, Australia. Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji are members of the Council while the Western Pacific High Commission is represented by Britain; the Constitution provides for associate membership. The Council normally meets every two years. Council has met eighteen times since it was formed, and has been largely concerned with the development of Nadi (Nandi) airport in Fiji. The next meeting of the Council will probably be held in 1971. COMMITTEES, SOCIETIES AND ORGANISATIONS IN BRITAIN CONCERNED WITH THE COMMONWEALTH AFRICAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION OF c/o Centre of West African Studies, University of Birmingham, President: Professor A. N. Allott Members of the Council of the Association: Dr R. E. Bradbury Professor J. D. Hargreaves H. P. White Dr J. H. M. Beattie Professor Daryll Forde Dr Rosemary L. Harris Professor P. M. Holt Professor W. H. Whiteley Professor D. W. Arnott Dr E. S. Clayton L. B. Frewer L. H. Katzen Dr R. W. J. Keay G. H. Moore Dr R. J. A. R. Rathbone Rev. F. B. Welbourn Miss J. M. Kenworthy The Association was founded in 1963 with the aim of advancing academic studies relating to Africa by providing facilities for the interchange of information and ideas. It publishes a bulletin three times a year and holds interdisciplinary conferences and symposia. Its members mostly hold teaching or research appointments in universities or other institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom. ANGLO SIERRA LEONEAN SOCIETY The Hon. Mr. Justice G. E. Dove-Edwin; Dr. M. C. F. Easmon, OBE; J. S. Fenton, CMG, OBE; C. P. McConnachie, CBE; J. Johnson, MP Hon. Secretary: R. A. Jones The Anglo Sierra Leonean Society was formed in London in August 1962. Its objects are to foster friendship and understanding between citizens of Great Britain and of Sierra Leone and to assist in the encouragement of cultural, literary and social relations between the two countries. The Society has a Council of mixed members comprising citizens of the United Kingdom and of Sierra Leone. Membership is open to all citizens of the United Kingdom and Sierra Leone and to any other nationals interested in Sierra Leone. |