Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

61.   Amalgamation and transfer of engagements

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    (1)   Any 2 or more societies may, by special resolution of both or all such societies, become amalgamated together as one society, with or without any dissolution or division of the funds of those societies or either of them.

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    (2)   A society may, by special resolution, transfer its engagements to any other society which may undertake to fulfil the engagements of that society.

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    (3)   A special resolution by a friendly society for an amalgamation or transfer of engagements under this Act shall not be valid without—

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      (a)     the assent thereto of 5/6 in value of the members, given either at the meetings at which the resolution is, according to the provisions of this Act, passed and confirmed, or at one of them, or, if the members were not present thereat, in writing; and

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      (b)     the written consent of every person receiving or entitled to any relief, annuity or other benefit from the funds of the society, unless the claim of that person is first duly satisfied, or adequate provision is made for satisfying that claim.

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    (4)   On application of the trustees or committee of a friendly society desiring to amalgamate or transfer its engagements, and upon notice of that application being published in the Gazette, the Registrar, after hearing the trustees or committee and any other persons whom he or she considers entitled to be heard upon the application, may order that any of the assents, consents, and conditions required by this Act, or by any regulations made under this Act, be dispensed with, and may confirm the amalgamation or transfer.

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    (5)   A society consisting wholly of members under 21 years of age, and a society or branch or branches of a society having members above 21 years of age, may, by resolutions registered in the manner required for the registration of an amendment of rules, become amalgamated together as one society or branch, or provide for distributing among several branches the members of a society consisting wholly of members under 21 years of age, and the other provisions of this section shall not apply to that amalgamation.

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    (6)   The value of members shall be ascertained by giving one vote to every member, and an additional vote for every 5 years that he or she has been a member, but to no one member more than 5 votes in the whole.

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    (7)   If any member of a friendly society which has amalgamated or transferred its engagements, or if any person claiming any relief, annuity, or other benefit from the funds thereof, is dissatisfied with the provision made for satisfying his or her claim, that member or person may apply to the Registrar for relief or other order, and the Registrar shall have the same powers in the matter as in regard to the settlement of disputes under this Act.