Declaration of Sophia

Chapter 11 A Code of Conduct

11.1 Positive action is required to move the nation along the road. Cardinal to this movement are the conduct, attitude and example of the leaders of the Party. And I now propose for adoption and/or amendment a "Code of Conduct" for P.N.C Leaders and members: This Code is not exhaustive and will have to be expanded from time to time as circumstances demand and permit, with respect both to the categories of persons described as leaders and the areas covered by its provisions.

A.
A Party Member

(1) Shall not accept or ask for any gift or money or property or benefit of any kind whatsoever for anything done or to be done or omitted to be done by him in the execution of his duties as a member.

(2) Shall not accept any gift whatsoever unless it is not contrary to paragraph (1) and is given by a relative or personal friend, or as a conventional diplomatic courtesy, a customary public expression of appreciation, or a mere advertising token distributed to the public. If an allegation is made against a member under this or the previous provision, the burden shall be upon him to prove that the gift falls under an exception.

(3) Shall not put to his own personal use, unless permitted by the General Secretary, any property whatsoever received on behalf of or belonging to the Party.

B.
A Leader

(1) Shall not hold shares or stock in any company save as a nominee of the Party or Government.

(2) Shall not hold a directorship in any company save as a nominee of the Party or Government.

(3) Shall not rent to others any dwelling house owned by him save with special permission of the Party Leader who may delegate his power in writing to any other Officer of the Party. Such permission is only to be granted if the leader is posted for a period of not less than six months away from his normal dwelling house on Party or Government business.

(4) Shall not rent to others any land for any purpose.

(5) Shall not use to his personal advantage or to that of any other person any information obtained by him by virtue of his being or having been a leader.

(6) Shall not engage in any private business enterprise unless he personally works in it and does not employ more than ten other persons.

C.

(1) A registered Co-operative Society shall not for the purposes of Part B be deemed to be a company or private business enterprise.

(2) Interest or dividends earned on money deposited or loaned to the Guyana National Co-operative Bank, the Guyana Co-operative Mortgage Finance Bank, the Guyana Agricultural Co-operative Bank, any Building Society, or from Government of Guyana securities shall be deemed not to have been earned from a private company or in a private business enterprise.

The Party General Council may from time to time specify other financial institutions similarly exempt.

(3) Every Leader shall, not later than 31st March, 1975 or within one month of his being appointed a leader, whichever is later, submit to the Party Leader a sworn declaration in writing of all his assets, wherever situate or held, and those of his spouse and unmarried children under the age of 18 years as well as their liabilities.

(4) Any leader who does any prohibited act through a trustee or other agent, shall be deemed to have committed the said act.

(5) Any complaint alleging a breach of the provisions of this Code shall be made in writing to the Executive Committee and addressed to the General Secretary.

(6) The Executive Committee is empowered to make rules for the making and hearing of complaints and appeals and shall hear and determine all complaints.

(7) Any leader admitting or found guilty of any breach or breaches of this Code shall be relieved of his post as leader and in addition may be expelled or suspended from the Party. Such leader may appeal to the General Council and the Biennial or a Special Congress of the Party successively, but the penalty awarded by the Executive Committee shall remain operative pending any such appeal or appeals. The Executive Committee shall also have the right of appeal to the Biennial or a Special Congress of the Party.

(8) The provisions of A 1, 2 and 3 and B 5 shall come into effect forthwith.

(9) The provisions of B 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 shall come into effect on 1st July 1975.

D.

Each of the following shall be deemed to be a Leader under the provisions of this Code:

1. The President of the Republic of Guyana.

2. The Prime Minister.

3. A Minister of the Government.

4. The Attorney General.

5. A P.N.C Member of Parliament.

6. A Party Officer as defined under Clause 13 of the Constitution of the Party.

7. Such other office-holder as the General Council of the Party may from time to time designate.

8. The spouse, and children under eighteen years of age of any of the above.

E.

This Code may be varied, expanded or amended at any time by the General Council, the Biennial or a Special Congress.