Constitution of the Sovereign Independent State of the Caribbean Diaspora

Introduction

The Sovereign Independent State of the Caribbean Diaspora (SISCAD) is a state without borders that is comprised of the sovereign peoples of the Caribbean and the Caribbean diaspora the world over, each individual being sovereign in his or her own right; recognizing no Crown, Country, Government, Parliament, Party, Common Goal or Common Good as being more sovereign than one's self and the best interests of one's self. 

The state takes its sovereignty from the collective sovereignty of the people that comprise it and from their political will to be governed under this Constitution that assures and protects their rights and demands their responsibility to respect and protect others' rights to their life, liberty, persons and property, and to participate in the affairs and maintenance of the state through wilfully contributing to voluntary 4% income tax, exercising their right to vote and run for office, participating in referenda and holding their government accountable. 

SISCAD was inspired by the creation of the federation of British West Indies as provided for by the British Caribbean Federation Act of 1956 and the West Indies (Federation) Order in Council of 1957, the creation of CARICOM as provided for by the Treaty of Chaguaramas Establishing the Caribbean Community including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy of 1973, and the creation of the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD) as provided for by the Constitution of the State of the African Diaspora (2018), the By-Laws of the Parliament of the State of the African Diaspora, the SOAD Electoral Code, the SOAD Law on Citizenship and Nationality, the SOAD Law on Restitution, or Rather Reconquest, and the SOAD Law on Culture, Ethnocide and Sovereignty.

These documents, which are to be found in the Schedule/Appendix, create the framework and the dream of a possibility for a unified Caribbean; a dream that is yet to be realized, but is an absolute necessity for the peoples of the Caribbean to progress and thrive. The book The Caribbean Unification Project: Using Our Collective Strength to Overcome Our Individual Weaknesses by Bentley Walker (2021) provided the motivation and impetus, however, to materialize the unified state for the sake of our economic, social and collective individual benefit and development. The Caribbean Unification Project (2021) brought to light the damage done to our people through colonization, an effect which continues to ripple throughout history to present day, resulting in our dividedness, stagnation and failure to materialize economic growth and to significantly reduce crime and poverty. 

The United Independents' Congress (UIC) of Jamaica, its policies and governance structure as articulated by its founder, Joseph L Patterson, in the Constitution of the United Independents' Congress of Jamaica and the Manifesto of the United Independents' Congress of Jamaica, which can both be found in the Schedule/Appendix, and also through many video recordings on the UIC Liberty TV YouTube channel, all provide the framework by which we can overcome the damage of colonialism foisted on our ancestors and present day peoples, and so progress in liberty, unity and prosperity, and charter a future of possibility, opportunity, accountability, order and justice for generations to come.

Preamble

Being knowledgeable of the fact that the poverty afflicting the countries and peoples of the Caribbean is caused by and is proportional to the predatory reaping of the resources of the region for the benefit of external countries and powers with no comparable benefit for the peoples of the region, in addition to predatory economic practices where these external countries buy our raw materials at a cheap price only to resell the manufactured products from our raw materials to us at exorbitant prices in their currency which we have to buy from them, in addition to the practice of Caribbean governments overinflating currencies in order to attract foreign investments and increase their own earnings while driving up the cost of living for Caribbean peoples,

Being cognizant that crime and other social ills stem from inequality caused by both disproportionate allocation of resources and poverty caused by the aforementioned and other unfavourable economic practices in addition to unchecked political corruption and public wastefulness and mismanagement, as well as religious systems that teach us separation of self from the other and self from nature instead of the unity that was apparent in our original Afrocentric and Indocentric societies before conquest and colonialism, in addition to a mostly Eurocentric education system that teaches our students to obey rather than to critique and innovate, and to work in factories and government agencies for the benefit of national governments who are pawns to selfish corporate interests and external powers, rather than teaching them to analyze supply and demand, to invest, to build businesses, opportunities and networks,

Being convinced that the political and economic unification of the Caribbean and the pursuit of Caribbean-centric goals are the ways to develop the region and make us truly independent and prosperous,

Being convinced also that the Eurocentric and colonial political, economic and cultural structures ingrained in our collective societies are barriers to our success and fulfilment,

Desiring the prosperity of the people of the Caribbean region and our strength through unification,

Realizing that the elected governments have not demonstrated the resolve and desire to pursue real Caribbean unification and prosperity, but are more interested in their own personal, partisan and nationalistic ideals and pursuits,

Believing that political power and sovereignty resides in the peoples of the Caribbean, and must be achieved by the people, and that legitimacy to govern resides with the consent of the people,

Resolving that the collective and individual best interests of the people must never be allowed to be bought out by any external powers or interests, nor by any internal colonial immoral capitalist or terrorist powers or interests, but that strong transparent accountability, equity, and checks and balances must be maintained,

Resolving also that the peoples of the Caribbean have an inherent right to their lives, persons, property and liberty, which no individual nor group of persons, whether a recognized government or other group, may violate,

In light of Article 21 (3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states, “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures,”

And in light of Article 20 (1) and (2) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, which state, “All peoples have the right to existence. They shall have the unquestionable and inalienable right to self-determination. They shall freely determine their political status and shall pursue their economic and social development according to the policy they have freely chosen” and “Colonized and oppressed peoples shall have the right to free themselves from the bonds of domination by resorting to any means recognized by the international community,”

And in the spirit of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which state in its Articles 3 – 5 that, “Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right, they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development,” and that “Indigenous peoples, in exercising their right to self-determination, have the right to autonomy or self-government in matters relating to their internal and local affairs, as well as means for financing their autonomous functions,” and furthermore that, “Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions, while retaining their rights to participate fully, if they so choose, in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the State,” 

We, the peoples of the Caribbean, being the direct children or descendants of the region, do unite as the Sovereign Independent State of the Caribbean Diaspora (SISCAD) for the achievement of the unification, development and progress of the Caribbean region and its people, in promotion of collective and personal responsibility and mutual respect for each individual's right to their life, person, property and liberty, and in recognition and promotion of the National Liberation & Unification Party, which, when installed in each Caribbean country, shall bring these ideals to reality.

Part 1 - The State

Article 1 - Establishment of the State.

We, the children and descendants of the Caribbean region, who unite under this constitution, are the Sovereign Independent State of the Caribbean Diaspora, otherwise called SISCAD, and as such, we the people are the state.

Article 2 - Principles

The state is organized under the principles of the National Liberation & Unification Party as are constituted under Article 17, section 6 - these principles being also the principles established under the Manifesto of UIC Jamaica. The government and citizens of SISCAD shall uphold these principles.

Article 3 - Languages

The official and working languages of SISCAD shall be the four majority languages spoken within the Caribbean region: English, Spanish, French and Dutch.

Article 4 - Official Currencies

The currencies of the Sovereign Independent State of the Caribbean Diaspora shall be the LUMI, Bitcoin/BTC, and the Eastern Caribbean Dollar/ECD/XCD.

Article 5 - Citizenship

1. All peoples born in any country of the Caribbean, or born of Caribbean parents, or who are spouses of peoples who are born in the Caribbean or of Caribbean parentage, or having Caribbean grandparents and the desire to be involved in Caribbean affairs, may apply on the prescribed form to become citizens of SISCAD, paying the prescribed processing fees.

2.  Application for citizenship by investment shall be allowed, where an aspiring citizen who has no Caribbean heritage, or is unable to furnish proof of Caribbean heritage, invests by making a single payment of at minimum between 14 times to 20 times the regular prescribed citizen application processing fee.

3. The application form, accompanied by the applicants' birth certificate, national ID card, and parents' birth certificates, and where necessary to prove Caribbean heritage, grandparents' birth certificates, shall be examined and processed by the government and a decision made.

4. A digital citizenship identification card (ID card) shall be issued to every successful applicant. The ID card shall bear an identification number and shall be proof of citizenship. Physical ID cards shall be shipped to the citizen at additional cost for production/printing and shipping.

5. Citizen ID cards are valid for 2 years and shall be renewed biennially; that is, every two years, with a processing fee.

Article 6 - Rights and Responsibilities

1. Once accepted to citizenship, the rights and responsibilities of of being a citizen of SICAD shall apply.

2. Citizens of SISCAD shall be assured the following rights:

2.1. The right both to vote for representatives for and to contest/run for any elected position in SISCAD, including that of President, Vice President, Senator, MP, Minister and any other position that may arise.

2.2. The right to vote on any law or policy being considered by the Legislature of SISCAD.

2.3. The right to appeal or demand SISCAD to lobby on one's behalf before the government of one's country or before any organization, corporation, or any other body of persons that seeks to limit, violate or take away one's inherent rights as guarded in this Constitution, and the right to appeal or demand that SISCAD use all available means to advocate or legally prosecute on one's behalf.

3. Citizens of SISCAD are expected to diligently carry out the following responsibilities:

3.1. Keep up to date on their biennial citizenship subscriptions.

3.2. Keep up to date on filing their 4% tax contributions monthly/annually.

3.3. Keep and obey the laws of SISCAD so long as these laws do not contradict the laws of the country in which they reside.

3.4. Exercise their right to vote and participate in elections and referendums

Article 7 - Government

1. SISCAD shall be both a representative democracy and a direct democracy, with elected representatives crafting legislations and policies on behalf of the citizens and allowing the citizens to vote on and suggest amendments to the legislations and policies before they can be passed.

2. SISCAD shall be governed by a government consisting of a President elected by the MPs (Members of Parliament) from amongst themselves, Six regional Vice Presidents who are vetted by the Senate and elected by SISCAD citizens in the designated regions, and Ministers of Government who are independent of the Legislature/Parliament, and who are vetted by an elected Senate and elected by the MPs.

Part 2 - The Government

Article 8 - The Senate

1. SISCAD citizens shall elect from amongst themselves, one National Senator per country to form the Senate or Upper House of SISCAD.

2. Senators shall review and debate laws passed in the Parliament, supervise and coordinate the work of SISCAD MPs in their country, arrange national meetings of the MPs in their country, carry out national projects in their country, vet candidates to key SISCAD government positions, and recruit new MPs and SISCAD citizens.

3. Every year, the Senate shall vote for the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Senate from amongst themselves. The Chairperson of the Senate shall chair the meetings of the Senate for one year.

4. The Senate shall serve for renewable terms of five years.

Article 9 - The Members of Parliament

1. SISCAD citizens shall elect from amongst themselves, no more than two (either one or two) MPs (Members of Parliament) per parish, district, region, state, province, prefecture, or equivalent geo-political/administrative sub-division of their resident countries to form the Parliament or Lower House of SISCAD.

2. MPs shall represent and advocate for their parish/district/region/state/province/prefecture constituencies in the SISCAD Parliament, propose and vote on laws and the budget, elect the President of SISCAD, the SISCAD Cabinet Ministers and the Parliament Chair, carry out developmental projects in their parishes/districts/regions/states/provinces/prefectures, and recruit new SISCAD citizens.

3. Every year, the Parliament shall vote for the Parliament Chair and Deputy Chair from amongst themselves. The Parliament Chair shall chair the meetings of the Parliament for one year.

4. Members of Parliament shall serve for renewable terms of four years, but shall not serve more than three consecutive terms at any time.

Article 10 - The President of SISCAD

1. The MPs shall elect from amongst themselves, the President of SISCAD. The person so elected by the SISCAD MPs shall be presented to the citizens of SISCAD for approval via referendum. If the citizens approve by majority vote, the President is retained.

2. If the citizens disapprove of the President, then the two MPs with the next top two votes will be presented to the citizens for election by electronic ballot. The winner by simple majority becomes the President of SISCAD.

3. The term of the President of SISCAD shall be five years. The President shall be eligible for re-election twice, that is, the President may serve three terms in total. However, no President can serve more than two consecutive terms at any one time.

Article 11 - The Vice Presidents of SISCAD

1.  The President shall nominate from amongst the six regions of SISCAD, competent citizens of SISCAD to serve as regional Vice Presidents (VPs). Interested citizens shall also be invited to apply for the position of VP of the region in which they reside. All candidates, whether nominated by the President or applied for by citizens, shall be vetted and shortlisted by the Senate. Those candidates who pass the vetting process shall be voted for or against by the citizens of SISCAD who reside within the region of their prospective VP.

2. The six regions of SISCAD from which Vice Presidents residing may be elected are: North America, Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia and the Pacific.

3. The Vice Presidents of SISCAD shall assist the President of SISCAD in his/her duties as directed by him/her, assume any portfolio assigned by the President, vote on policies enacted by the President or Cabinet, coordinate and supervise the work of the Senators within their region, recruit national Senators for countries in their region, and act as President in his/her absence, voting amongst themselves to elect the Acting or Interim President.

4. Every year, the Vice Presidents shall vote for the Vice President Chair from amongst themselves. The Vice President Chair shall only chair meetings of the Vice Presidents in which a policy of the President or Cabinet is being discussed and voted on, or a meeting in which the Interim or Acting President is being decided.

Article 12 - Vacancy of the President

1. If the office of President shall become vacant for any reason for a period not exceeding eight (8) months, the six Vice Presidents shall vote amongst themselves to elect one VP to become Interim President. 

2. If the office of the President shall become vacant for any reason for a period exceeding eight (8) months, the six Vice Presidents shall vote amongst themselves to elect one VP to become Acting President. The Senators shall also meet to cast a vote for one of the Vice Presidents to sit as Acting President. The Vice Presidents' choice shall then be presented to the Senate for approval. If the Senate approves, the elected VP becomes President. If the Senate does not approve, the Senate's choice becomes Acting President until an election by the MPs is called.

Article 13 - The Government Ministers and the Cabinet

1. The President shall name the Government Ministries of SISCAD and shall nominate experienced and qualified individuals from across the world who are of Caribbean birth, parentage or grandparentage to become Ministers of SISCAD. Interested qualified citizens of SISCAD shall also apply and put themselves forward for candidacy as a Minister.

2. Only citizens of SISCAD can apply for Ministerial positions, and persons who are nominated by the President must agree to become citizens of SISCAD.

3. All candidates for Ministerial positions, whether nominated by the President or applied for by citizens, shall be vetted and shortlisted by the Senate. Those candidates who pass the vetting process shall be voted for or against by the MPs, who shall have the right to elect the Ministers of Government. The successfully elected candidates by simple majority vote become the duly elected Ministers for their respective portfolios/Ministries, and together with the President and Vice Presidents shall form the Cabinet of SISCAD.

4. Each SISCAD Cabinet Minister shall consult with Ministers of Government for corresponding Ministries in Caribbean countries and invite them to join and participate in Advisory Councils on a regular basis. Each Cabinet Minister shall bring to SISCAD Cabinet meetings, the advice and viewpoints arising from the consultations and Advisory Council meetings with their corresponding Caribbean government Ministers.

5. The government Ministers of Caribbean countries are not allowed to sit in SISCAD Cabinet, but merely advise SISCAD Cabinet Ministers. SISCAD Ministers shall strive to consult at least bimonthly or quarterly.

6. SISCAD Cabinet shall meet with heads of government of Caribbean countries at least two times per year to discuss matters pertinent to the region in SISCAD Council meetings.

7. SISCAD Cabinet and SISCAD Council meetings shall be chaired by the President of SISCAD, and in his/her absence, by a VP elected by the SISCAD VPs. Decisions shall be arrived at by simple majority vote. In the case of a tie, the President or VP chairing the meeting has both an original and a casting/tie-breaking vote.

8. All decisions and policy directives of the SISCAD Cabinet and Council shall be subsequently approved by a simple majority of the votes of the Vice Presidents. If there is a tie in the VP vote, then the matter must be voted on in the Senate by a simple majority vote. Failure to meet approval means that the policy or directive cannot be enacted, and must be revised.

Article 14 - Legislation

1. Bills may be introduced to Parliament for deliberation by either majority vote of the Government of SISCAD, or by a Member of Parliament, or by two Judges of the Supreme Court of SISCAD jointly signing, or by 4% of the eligible voting citizens via petition. MPs shall examine a bill and discuss it, then elect a day within 60 days of initial reading when the bill shall be examined more closely and discussed fully.

2. The bill shall be discussed and examined in full and amended as necessary. The bill as discussed and amended by the MPs shall be uploaded on SISCAD website for a period of 30 to 60 days for the citizens of SISCAD to comment, approve or disapprove. MPs shall also cause the bill to be physically displayed in at least two prominent public places within their local parishes/districts/states/provinces (or other similar geographical-administrative subdivisions) in the Caribbean countries, United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, for the inhabitants of their parish/district/region/state/province/prefecture-constituencies to contribute to the creation and amendment of the bill.

3. MPs shall meet at the end of the period of 30 to 60 days and discuss and amend the bill considering the input from the citizens of SISCAD and the general Caribbean population within Caribbean, USA, UK and Canadian parishes/districts/regions/states/provinces.

4. The bill then passes to the Senate, which shall read and discuss the bill and then elect a day within 60 days for a more full discussion of the bill. After the second reading and debate of the bill, the amended bill shall be uploaded on the SISCAD website for a period of 30-60 days for only the citizens of SISCAD to comment, approve or disapprove.

5. At the end of this period, the Senate shall meet and discuss and, if deemed necessary, amend the bill considering the input from the citizens of SISCAD, and shall forward the bill to the President of SISCAD to approve or make suggestions for amendment as he sees fit. If the bill is approved by the President, it is sent by referendum for the citizens to Approve or Disapprove. Citizens who Disapprove shall include reasons and make suggestions for improvement. If there is a simple majority vote for Approve, the bill is carried into law.

6. If the President makes suggestions for amendment, or the citizens Disapprove, Parliament shall meet to review the bill with the suggested amendments. If necessary, the Parliament shall elect a day within 30 days of the review to more fully discuss. Once approved in Parliament, the bill shall be sent to the Senate for review. Once approved in the Senate, the President shall review the amended bill and Approve or Disapprove. If the President Approves, the bill is sent by referendum to the citizens to vote Approve or Disapprove. If the President Disapproves, the bill is also sent via referendum to the citizens citing reasons for disapproval. If the citizens Approve by majority vote, the bill is carried into law. If the citizens Disapprove, the bill is annulled and thrown out.

7. The President reserves the right to challenge any bill that he/she has Disapproved and the citizens have voted into law in the Supreme Court of SISCAD if the President believes that the law is unconstitutional. The President shall argue his/her point before a Supreme court judge and a jury of thirteen citizens of SISCAD, who shall consider and make the final ruling on the matter.

8. In the event that the Government of SISCAD is formed and the Parliament is not yet formed and convened, the Government shall be responsible for setting policies that the citizens shall examine and give input, after which, the Government shall review and present to the citizens for approval. The Parliament, when formed, shall review the policies and legislations according to the process described in Article 14, Sections 1-6 above.

9. In the event that both the Government and Senate are formed and the Lower House of Parliament is not yet formed and convened, the Senate shall propose and debate laws in two readings and then present the bill to the citizens to give input. The Senate shall then meet and review, considering the input of the citizens and pass the bill up to the Government of SISCAD. The government shall also debate the bill in two readings, then present to the citizens for input. The Government shall then meet once more for discussion and review, considering the citizens' inputs and then present the amended bill to the President for Approval or Disapproval, who shall then in turn present the bill for citizens to Approve or Disapprove. The Lower House, when finally formed, shall review the legislations according to the process described in Article 14, Sections 1-6 above.

Article 15 - Judiciary/Dispute Resolution

1. The Judiciary shall be composed of competent judges who are experienced and qualified to be Supreme Court Judges and Resident Magistrates/Parish Judges in their countries of residence/practice.

2. The President of SISCAD shall nominate competent judges from any peoples of Caribbean birth, parentage and grandparentage from across the regions of SISCAD to serve as Chief Justice, Supreme Court Judges, and Resident/Regional Magistrates. The government of SISCAD shall also invite interested and qualified citizens of SISCAD to apply for the positions. All nominees and applicants shall be vetted by the Chief Justice together with the Senate, and those who have passed the vetting process shall be elected by the MPs for office.

3. Judges of the Supreme Court shall reserve the right to propose bills for examination and deliberation by the Parliament and Senate where two or three Judges meet and agree on the necessity of a law. Judges of the Supreme Court of SISCAD also reserve the right to amend laws via rulings in court, subject to possible review and amendment by the Parliament.

4. The Supreme Court reserves the right to try SISCAD public and elected officials in an Impeachment Court upon receiving a petition or recommendation for impeachment signed by 51% of the Cabinet, Senate or Legislature, or 4% of the citizens of SISCAD. The case shall be publicly tried before a jury of 13 citizens of SISCAD, and after the Court shall have given their verdict, citizens of SISCAD shall vote to Retain or Remove the official. A simple majority vote shall decide for Removal/Impeachment or Retention.

5. In the event that the Judiciary cannot be convened, or until the Judiciary is properly established, SISCAD shall convene a Dispute Resolution and Disciplinary Committee (DRDC) comprised of the President, Vice Presidents, a DRDC Chairman elected by the Government and vetted by the Senate, and four regular citizens of SISCAD nominated by the President and vetted by the Senate.

5.1 All disputes and disciplinary matters shall be referred to the DRDC, which shall decide all matters via two-thirds vote. The Chairman votes only in the case of a tie.

5.2 All parties to a dispute or disciplinary matter are free to select one or two witnesses or advocates or one legal counsel either from within or outside SISCAD to speak on their behalf or to add to their argument, informing the DRDC at least 72 hours before as to the identity of their witnesses/advocates/legal counsel.

5.3 The results of the DRDC resolution will be proclaimed by the Chairman of the DRDC before a jury of seven citizens who shall debate the findings and ruling of the DRDC and question the disputing parties as they deem necessary through the Chair. The jury shall then meet together and determine their ruling.

5.4 Parties may appeal the ruling of the original DRDC and the jury via a larger DRDC comprised of the President, Vice Presidents, DRDC Chairman and nine new members who did not participate in the original DRDC nor the jury. If the rulings of this DRDC is not sufficient, then citizens may write to the SISCAD Minister of Justice to hear the case in the presence of the Justice Advisory Council; that is, a council made of the national Ministers of Justice of the various Caribbean nations, who have agreed to the invitation to hear the dispute. This Justice Advisory Council shall be the highest level of justice hearings in SISCAD.

Part 3 - Organs of SISCAD

Article 16 - Defence - The State Defence Corps

1. SISCAD shall employ a State Defence Corps for the defence of the State, that is, the citizens of SISCAD, who are the state itself, and for the defence of any Caribbean country against external aggressors.

2. Interested persons may apply online to join the State Defence Corps. SISCAD will attempt to locate retired military and emergency response personnel within the applicants' country of residence to conduct private military training plus disaster and emergency response training face-to-face. SISCAD will also facilitate minimal private online training sessions. At the end of this training, trainees will meet at one meet-up point where all individual groups in training from all over the world will congregate and share their training regimen and techniques with one another.

3. Once all trainees have cross-trained, they start legal training so as to be able to advocate on behalf of and  prosecute any government, corporation, or private persons who have violated the rights of any citizen of SISCAD or the sovereignty and integrity or peoples of a Caribbean state.

4. The identity of the members of the State Defence Force shall be kept secret and confidential, and may not be disclosed except as required within a court of law for any miscarriage of justice carried out by SISCAD State Defence Corps troops.

5. All acts of aggression against or violation of the rights of a SISCAD citizen or Caribbean state will be addressed initially with an advisory to cease and desist to the offending party(ies) and an invitation to meet in mediation and bargaining. Should the advisory and invitation be ignored, SISCAD shall either issue another advisory and invitation to mediate this time publicly, or seek the intervention of other states, and/or issue a warning of intervention by the State Defence Corps. If this is not fruitful, SISCAD shall issue a proclamation of the events that transpired to the citizens of SISCAD and to the international community and appeal for the international community to intervene while it prepares the State Defence Corps to initiate legal proceedings against the offending state or party before select regional, international or transnational courts.

6. A initiation of legal proceedings shall accompany the preparation of SISCAD State Defence troops to gather and prepare to take military action should the offended parties require the State Defence Corps to do so on their behalf and there is either a simple majority Approval vote by the citizens via referendum for SISCAD military intervention or the President, Vice Presidents and Senate have all approved for military intervention via simple majority vote.

7. Upon the receipt of a positive Approval vote after request by the victimized parties, SISCAD shall inform the regional/international courts and request a time for a peaceful or mutually beneficial resolution or finalization. The President or Minister of Defence shall then have the initiative to mobilize the State Defence Corps.

8. State Defence Corps shall tactically enter the offending state by whatever means or duration may effect the maximum protection of its members and achievement of the goal.

Article 17 - National Liberation & Unification Party

1.  The National Liberation & Unification Party (NLUP) shall ensure the integration and unity of the Caribbean region and the liberty, sovereignty and progress of all its citizens by being registered via each country's laws as a political party.

2. In order to ensure the promotion and propogation of NLUP, by whatever name it may be known in each Caribbean state or territory, SISCAD shall employ a Minister of National Liberation and Unification. The SISCAD Minister of National Liberation & Unification shall seek all means to educate, promote and market the principles, organizational structure, core values, and policies of the NLUP to instigate the formation, registration and efficient, transparent, equitable operations of the party by whatever name it is called in each country/territory, and shall liaise with and manage all NLUP Party Leaders or Presidents in all Caribbean states and territories.

3. Each National Liberation & Unification Party, by whatever name it is called, in the country in which it is installed, registered and operated, shall have, as its chief mission or one of its missions, the mission of UIC Jamaica, which is "to create a non-partisan constitutional republic that fully respects the sovereignty of every citizen by protecting the life, liberty and property of everyone equally, and promotes personal responsibility within a safe, clean and orderly free market society, where all may live, earn and retire with dignity."

4. Each NLUP, by whatever name it is called, in the country in which it is installed, registered and operated, shall have, as its chief philosophy or one of its philosophies, the philosophy of UIC Jamaica, which is "It is the natural right of every human being to be free. Therefore, the only moral justification and rightful purpose of government are to protect your life, liberty and property. Good Governance, therefore, is a system that protects the individual's liberty, promotes personal responsibility, and provides all citizens with a safe, clean and orderly society. This is the only sure foundation for a truly great and prosperous nation."

5. Each NLUP, by whatever name it is called, in the country in which it is installed, registered and operated, shall have as its objectives at least the objectives of UIC Jamaica, to which it may add others, these basic mandatory objectives being:

5.1 To successfully contest elections according to the laws of the country to form the government and lead the country to adopt a new constitution and system of governance that would make the country a Non-partisan Democratic Republic that protects individual liberty, promotes personal responsibility and provides a safe, clean and orderly society with a truly free-market economy.

    5.2 To adopt, advance and advocate platforms, positions, policies, legislations and values that seek to abolish the use of all forms of force and fraud from all human relationships by protecting the sovereignty of the nation and the right of every law-abiding citizen to self-determination.

5.3 To recruit, train and support candidates, in elections at every level, who subscribe to our philosophy, mission and values which are centred around the protection of the right of every individual to choose what is best for themselves while respecting the life, liberty and property of others.

5.4 To form and maintain organizational units at the national, county, parish, constituency, division and sub-divisional levels to achieve the vision, mission and objectives of the party by empowering the citizens to take charge of their own families, communities and country.

5.5 To work in solidarity with others to replace the system of partisan politics and its entrenched political corruption with a new system of good governance that prevents special interest groups from controlling and manipulating the economy and society.

5.6 To create a safe, clean and orderly country, where everyone enjoys equal opportunity, equal rights and equal justice; and may live, work, and retire in peace and prosperity within a truly free and fair market economy that is characterized by a highly educated, productive and patriotic citizenry.

5.7 To rekindle and nurture a voluntary spirit of caring, cooperative and compassionate individuals who value their individual and collective freedom, and who cherish family, community and country.

5.8 To champion the Non-Partisan Democratic Republic; where the residents of each county, parish, constituency and division are free to nominate and elect qualified candidates from among themselves to represent their collective interest without being unduly influenced or manipulated by any special interest groups, political parties or those with significant financial means or backing.

5.9 To create a truly free-market economy with a large variety of small, medium and big businesses, while restoring and protecting the right of every citizen to import and export, buy and sell, whatever they wish from whomever they wish, at whatever price they may agree on, without third-party or government interference; provided they do not use force or fraud in conducting their transactions and do not infringe on the life, liberty or property of others.

5.10 To protect and preserve the natural environment by promoting an ecologically friendly culture and sustainable development policies that result in clean water, organic food and energy security.

5.11 To end the cycle of boom and bust debt-based inflationary economics and its fractional reserve monetary system that works to enrich a few at the expense of the majority by way of central banking manipulation of interest rates, legal tender laws and currency supply to devalue the purchasing power of unsuspecting citizens.

5.12 To protect the right of every adult individual of sound mind to do with their life, liberty and property as they see fit, regardless of their age, gender, sex, race, nationality, creed, religion, political affiliation or any other personal preferences; provided the individual, in exercising this right, does not infringe on the life, liberty and property of any other individual or persons.

5.13 To protect the right of every citizen not to be taxed for government corruption and waste by abolishing all taxes, including the property tax, and replacing them with a single personal and corporate income tax and a sales tax not exceeding ten percent (10%) each; and by limiting the budget of the government to this source of income and any legitimate cost-recovery user fees and fines as its only sources of income.

5.14 To implement a strict, transparent and simplified government accounting, reporting and taxation system that makes it very easy for citizens to be tax compliant and be very informed concerning public revenues, expenses and debts.

5.15 To stop the government from borrowing beyond its ability to pay by outlawing operating deficit spending and restricting capital expenditure to special capital taxes that must be approved directly by citizens via two-thirds majority referendums and be paid off by the generation that voted for it.  

6. Each NLUP, by whatever name it is called, in the country in which it is installed, registered and operated, shall follow and operate under the principles of UIC Jamaica, to which it may add others, these principles being:

1. Personal Liberty:

Individuals are inherently free to make choices for themselves and must accept responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make. Our support of an individual’s right to make choices in life does not mean that we necessarily approve or disapprove of those choices. No individual, group, or government may rightly initiate force against any other individual, group, or government. The citizens reject the notion that groups have inherent rights. We support the rights of the smallest minority, the individual.

2. Self-Ownership:

Individuals own their bodies and have rights over them that other individuals, groups, and governments may not violate. Individuals have the freedom and responsibility to decide what they knowingly and voluntarily consume, and what risks they accept to their own health, finances, safety, or life.

3. Expression and Communication:

We support full freedom of expression and oppose government censorship, regulation, or control of communications media and technology. We favour the freedom to engage in or abstain from any religious activities that do not violate the rights of others. We oppose government actions which either aid or attack any religion.

4. Privacy:

We uphold individual privacy and government transparency. We are committed to ending the government’s practice of spying on everyone. We support the rights to be secure in our persons, homes, property, and communications. Protection from unreasonable search and seizure should include records held by third parties, such as bank accounts, email, medical, and library records.

5. Parental Rights:

Parents, or other guardians, have the right to raise their children according to their own standards and beliefs, provided that the rights of children to be free from abuse and neglect are also protected.

6. Crime and Justice:

Government force must be limited to the protection of the rights of individuals to life, liberty, and property, and governments must never be permitted to violate these rights. Laws should be limited in their application to violations of the rights of others through force or fraud, or to deliberate actions that place others involuntarily at significant risk of harm. Therefore, we favour the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without victims, such as gambling, the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes, and consensual transactions involving sexual services. We support restitution to the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the criminal or the negligent wrongdoer. The constitutional rights of the criminally accused, including due process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must be preserved. We assert the common-law right of juries to judge not only the facts but also the justice of the law. We oppose the prosecutorial practice of “over-charging” in criminal prosecutions to avoid jury trials by intimidating defendants into accepting plea bargains.

7. Death Penalty:

We oppose the administration of the death penalty by the state. Only an infallible God can ensure that the party pronounced guilty is guilty. The death penalty is irreversible and as such is an unwise power to vest in the hands of any man or woman. (SISCAD/ NLUPs shall endorse the death penalty only in the case where a previously convicted capital offender (e.g. murder, rape, trafficking of persons, etc.) has repeated the crime  after previously being deemed rehabilitated, and does not seem capable of rehabilitation despite best efforts. In this exceptional instance, the death penalty is carried out for the protection of others, not as a punishment.)

8. Self-Defence:

The only legitimate use of force is in defence of individual rights — life, liberty, and justly acquired property — against aggression. This right inheres in the individual, who may agree to be aided by any other individual or group. We affirm the individual right to responsibly keep and bear arms and oppose the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defence.

9. Economic Liberty:

We want all members of society to have abundant opportunities to achieve economic success. A free and competitive market allocates resources in the most efficient manner. Each person has the right to offer goods and services to others in the free market. The only proper role of government in the economic realm is to protect property rights, adjudicate disputes, and provide a legal framework in which voluntary trade is protected. All efforts by the government to redistribute wealth, or to control or manage trade, are improper in a free society.

10. Property and Contract:

As respect for property rights is fundamental to maintaining a free and prosperous society, it follows that the freedom to contract to obtain, retain, profit from, manage, or dispose of one’s property must also be upheld. Property owners must be freed from government property taxes and restrictions on their rights to control and enjoy their property, as long as their choices do not harm or infringe on the rights of others. Eminent domain, civil asset forfeiture, governmental limits on profits, governmental production mandates, and governmental controls on prices of goods and services (including wages, rents, and interest) are abridgements of such fundamental rights. For voluntary dealings among private entities, parties should be free to choose with whom they trade and set whatever trade terms are mutually agreeable.

11. Environment:

Competitive free markets and property rights stimulate the technological innovations and behavioural changes required to protect our environment and ecosystems. Private landowners and conservation groups have a vested interest in maintaining natural resources. Governments are unaccountable for damage done to our environment and have a terrible track record when it comes to environmental protection. Protecting the environment requires a clear definition and enforcement of individual rights and responsibilities regarding resources like land, water, air, and wildlife. Where damages can be proven and quantified in a court of law, restitution to the injured parties must be required.

12. Energy and Resources:

While energy is needed to fuel a modern society, the government should not be subsidizing any particular form of energy. We oppose all government control of energy pricing, allocation, and production.

13. Government Finance and Spending:

All persons are entitled to keep the fruits of their labour and spend their earnings as they see fit. To this end, we limit the Government to revenues of no more than 10% of all individuals’ earnings to fund spending on public goods and services that will ensure a safe, clean and orderly environment wherein everyone may live, work and retire with dignity in a truly free and fair market economy. To fund humanitarian crises, including the proper nutrition, education, healthcare and housing of the poor, we propose that Government collect a sales tax of 10% which shall be designated for these purposes. No child should be denied the benefit of basic education, good nutrition, decent housing or healthcare. The parents (father and mother) must be held accountable, but the child should not suffer in the process.

14. Government Debt:

The government should not incur debt at interest, but should instead operate on a balanced budget formula of no more than 10% of the income generated by residents and print only as much money as can be absorbed by true productivity growth while protecting the purchasing power of senior citizens by avoiding artificial inflation, devaluation and deflation at all cost.

15. Government Employees:

We favour repealing any requirement that one must join or pay dues to a union as a condition of government employment. We advocate replacing defined-benefit pensions with defined-contribution plans, as are commonly offered in the private sector, so as not to impose debt on future generations without their consent.

16. Government Regulation:

Economic freedom is one of many catalysts for true prosperity in societies. We recognize this and thus move to empower the Government's Regulatory role by ensuring that no force, fraud or breaking of just and objective laws goes unpunished in our society.

17. Money and Financial Markets:

We favour free-market banking, with unrestricted competition among banks and depository institutions of all types. Markets are not free unless fraud is vigorously combated. Those who enjoy the possibility of profits must not impose risks of losses upon others, such as through government guarantees or bailouts. We support ending student loan guarantees and special treatment of student loan debt in bankruptcy proceedings. Individuals engaged in voluntary exchange should be free to use as money any mutually agreeable commodity or item. We support a halt to inflationary monetary policies and unconstitutional legal tender laws.

18. Marketplace Freedom:

We support free markets. We defend the right of individuals to form corporations, cooperatives and other types of entities based on voluntary association. We oppose all forms of government subsidies and bailouts to business, labour, or any other special interest. The government should not compete with private enterprise.

19. Licensing:

We support the right of every person to earn an honest and peaceful living through the free and voluntary exchange of goods and services. Accordingly, we oppose occupational and other licensing laws that infringe on this right or treat it as a state-granted privilege. We encourage certifications by voluntary associations of professionals.

20. Labour Markets:

Employment and compensation agreements between private employers and employees are outside the scope of government, and these contracts should not be encumbered by government-mandated benefits or social engineering. We support the right of private employers and employees to choose whether or not to bargain with each other through a labour union. Bargaining should be free of government interference, such as compulsory arbitration or imposing an obligation to bargain.

21. Education:

Education is best provided by the free market, achieving greater quality, accountability, and efficiency with more diversity of choice. Recognizing that the education of children is a parental responsibility, we would restore authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from the government. Parents should have control of and responsibility for all funds expended for their children’s education.

22. Health Care:

We favour a free-market health care system as opposed to the existing system that does not support freedom of choice. We recognize the freedom of individuals to determine the level of health insurance they want (if any), the level of health care they want, the care providers they want, the medicines and treatments they will use and all other aspects of their medical care, including end-of-life decisions. People should be free to purchase health insurance from whom and as they see fit.

23. Securing Liberty:

The protection of individual rights is the only proper purpose of government. Government is to be constitutionally limited to prevent the infringement of individual rights by the government itself. The principle of non-initiation of force should guide the relationships between governments.

24. Retirement and Income Security:

Retirement planning is the responsibility of the individual, not the government. All government-sponsored systems shall transition to private voluntary systems. The proper and most effective source of help for the poor is the voluntary efforts of private groups and individuals. We believe members of society will become even more charitable and civil society will be strengthened as the government reduces its activity in this realm.

25.``National Defence:

We support the maintenance of a sufficient military to defend our country against aggression. We should both avoid entangling alliances and oppose any attempt by any country to act as a policeman for the world. We oppose any form of compulsory national service.

26. Internal Security and Individual Rights:

The defence of the country requires that we have adequate intelligence to detect and to counter threats to domestic security. This requirement must not take priority over maintaining the civil liberties of our citizens. The Constitution and Bill of Rights shall not be suspended even during a time of war. Intelligence agencies that legitimately seek to preserve the security of the nation must be subject to oversight and transparency. We oppose the government’s use of secret classifications to keep from the public information that it should have, especially that which shows that the government has violated the law. We oppose the use of torture and other cruel and unusual punishments, without exception.

27. International Affairs:

Foreign policy should seek a state at peace with the world. Our foreign policy should emphasize defence against attack from abroad and enhance the likelihood of peace by avoiding foreign entanglements. We oppose any policy of foreign intervention, including military and economic aid. We recognize the right of all people to resist tyranny and defend themselves and their rights. We condemn the use of force, and especially the use of terrorism, against the innocent, regardless of whether such acts are committed by governments or by political or revolutionary groups.

28. Free Trade and Migration:

We support the removal of governmental impediments to free trade. Political freedom and escape from tyranny demand that individuals are not unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of political boundaries. Economic freedom demands the unrestricted movement of human as well as financial capital across national borders.

29. Self Determination:

Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of individual liberty, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to agree to such new governance as to them shall seem most likely to protect their liberty.

30. Rights and Discrimination:

We embrace the concept that all people are born with certain inherent rights. We reject the idea that a natural right can ever impose an obligation upon others to fulfil that “right.” The government should neither deny nor abridge any individual’s human rights. Members of private organizations retain their rights to set whatever standards of association they deem appropriate, and individuals are free to respond with ostracism, boycotts, and other free-market solutions.

31. True Representative Government

We support non-partisan election systems and representatives of the electorate at all levels. All candidates must run and stand as independents and should not be funded by any person, group or party. Each candidate, once nominated by local constituents only, shall be given equal access to the media, town halls and public debates if they meet the eligibility criteria of age, knowledge, and experience to serve. Members of their respective constituencies will be the only nominators and the constituents will be the only support group behind the candidates, who must also live in the geographical area that they seek to represent. This electoral system will recognize no party colours, symbols or seating in the process or structure of our governance. There will be no provisions, implicit or explicit, for political parties, partisan politics or any other form of group or divisions. Instead, each individual Caribbean country will have a President elected nationally, one elected Senator for every parish/district/region or equivalent geopolitical/administrative sub-subdivision elected by the residents of those parishes/districts/regions or equivalent geopolitical/ administrative sub-subdivision and one elected Member of Parliament or (Lower) House Representative for each constituency or district. (At SISCAD level, - the regional Caribbean federal state - each nationally elected President will function as a SISCAD Senator and each country's elected parish/district/region/state Senator (plus one other elected member) will function collectively as SISCAD Parliament/Lower House.)

The Executive Branch for each Caribbean country under this proposed/intended governance structure, consisting of the President and elected Vice Presidents, will nominate Ministers of Government, who will then be vetted publicly by the Senate and voted in or out by the Lower House/Members of Parliament. These Government Ministers will not be elected politician, but rather Caribbean people and descendants highly qualified in their areas of responsibilities recruited from anywhere they might be in the world. Once elected to office by the Lower House, they may only be removed by the same process: a request from the Executive, public review by the Senate, and a vote from the MPs in the Lower House. This process also applies to the Judiciary.

         31. b.) – Explanation/Addendum to True Representation Government Structure to be Established in Each Caribbean Country through the NLUPs

                     (For us to liberate ourselves, we must organize. However, our organizational structure cannot replicate  the colonial system that enslaves us. We need a new structure.

(The present system of government and politics does not defend the rights and interests of the Caribbean people. Rather, too much power is concentrated in one person and in one group of like-minded individuals in the same political party, and they act in the best interests of their party and those who fund the party. This entire system must be overhauled.

(What currently exists in most countries that pattern the Westminster governance model or similar colonial models is that the political party hierarchy or the selected party delegates choose MP candidates for the people to vote for. On election day when people have voted, the party that has more successfully elected MP candidates wins the election, and the leader of the winning party is appointed by the Governor General, President or Governor as Prime Minister or Premier. The new Prime Minister or Premier then names the government Ministries and nominates any MPs or Senators from his/her party to form the Cabinet as government Ministers, whether they are qualified or not. The Prime Minister or Premier then nominates a number of persons – the number usually set by the Constitution – to be Senators, and the Leader of the Opposition or majority of MPs not in government nominates a smaller number of Senators. The Governor General, President or Governor, acting on these nominations then appoints the Senators.

(In this governance and political structure, the MPs and Senators are not accountable to the people, but are accountable to the Prime Minister or Premier, their party leader. The party leader Prime Minister or Premier, is in turn, accountable to no one, for he/she controls the majority of the Lower House/House of Representatives and the majority of the Senate, which together make up the Legislative arm of government, which is responsible for making laws and monitoring the Cabinet, and he/she controls the Cabinet as well, which is the Executive arm of the government.

(The Prime Minister or Premier influences the Judiciary as well; that part of the government that interprets and enforces the law, since he/she recommends the individual to be appointed as Chief Justice to the Governor General, President or Governor, and in fact, the Prime Minister/Premier either recommends the candidate to be appointed as Governor General or President to the Monarch in constitutional monarchy governments or, in the case of republics, forms part of the Parliament which he/she controls, which elects the Governor General, President or Governor by a two-thirds vote.

(SISCAD's proposed/intended system of governance returns power to the people and ensures true representation and transparency. This cuts down on corruption and puts the Caribbean people on the path to achieve true liberty, individual sovereignty and national as well as collective progress – once NLUPs are able to contest and win elections and effect constitutional reform to enact this governance model.

(Through the action and electoral victory of the NLUPs in each Caribbean state and subsequent reform, we will get rid of partisan politics and the importance/influence of political parties on the election process so that individual Caribbean nationals of all backgrounds and stages of life, whether affiliated to a party or not, can apply to run for political office once they meet all other requirements. All interested potential political candidates must send in applications to run for MP or any other contested political office, then must sit a basic governance test. Those who pass the test will be vetted by qualified external auditors, then will be interviewed. Those who pass the vetting, background check and interview will then be allowed to find the required number of eligible voters in their constituency or division to nominate them. Only then will they be qualified to run in elections. Elections will be funded directly by the state once candidates have successfully passed through the pre-nomination stages. This eliminates any advantage that wealthy or well-connected/funded candidates may have had over poorer/less-connected candidates. Everyone is on equal footing to win.

(We will seek to combine the offices of Head of State and Head of Government into one position – the President; and we will separate the election of this national President from the election of MPs. Under the current colonial systems, we often vote for corrupt or inefficient MPs just so that our preferred party leader can become Prime Minister. In governance systems established by NLUPs that have won government office and successfully passed a referendum, however, the election of the President will be a national election, separate and apart from the election of the MPs, which will take place in constituencies.

(This President will not be able to nominate or appoint Senators as he/she feels, like what happens in the current systems; instead, the public will elect parish/district/region Senators - one elected per parish/district/region or equivalent geopolitical/administrative division by the residents. These Senators, in addition to reviewing bills passed by the MPs in the Lower House, will also supervise and monitor the work of the independent MPs in their communities and constituencies, and will also act as SISCAD MPs, forming the Lower House/House of Parliament for the regional Caribbean state – SISCAD. Each nationally elected President will form the SISCAD Senate.)

(In our intended governance system, MPs and Senators cannot have access to the public funds nor can they be appointed as government ministers. Under the current systems, the Prime Minister or Premier chooses any MP from his/her party and a limited number of Senators to oversee the government Ministries that he/she creates and names.  However, we will make it that the President nominates Caribbean citizens and descendants who are qualified and experienced in the relevant Ministry subject matters to be government Ministers, but also encourages other interested qualified persons to apply. The Senate, which is independent of the President and independent of any party, having been elected by the parishes/regions, will then vet each candidate publicly, so that Caribbean citizens can see the process of deliberation. Those who will have passed the public vetting will be elected by the House of Representatives - the MPs, who will vote for or against the appointment of the potential Ministers. Those who are successfully elected will then form the Cabinet of each country, heading the government Ministries under the leadership of the President, all being monitored by the independent MPs in the Lower House.

(In this way, accountability will be ensured as we will no longer be depending on the same persons who make the laws and policies to also implement the laws and policies and hold their own selves accountable in managing the people's business. This system of governance keeps the Executive separate from the Legislature and allows the Executive to truly be accountable to the Legislature.

(This governance structure also keeps the Executive and the President out of the Judiciary (the court system) arm of government. Instead of the President directly appointing the Chief Justices and other judges, he/she will nominate qualified candidates who will then be vetted by the Senate and elected by the House of Parliament, following the same process as for Cabinet Ministers.)

7. These thirty-one principles of the National Liberation & Unification Party in the countries in which they shall be installed are also the principles of SISCAD and SISCAD government.

8. For the avoidance of doubt, the United Independents' Congress of Jamaica, otherwise called UIC Jamaica, or the UIC, or by whatever name it may be called in the future, is taken as the NLUP operating in Jamaica.

Article 18 - Caribbean Economic Council

1. The Caribbean Economic Council shall be comprised of the President of SISCAD who shall chair the Council, SISCAD Vice Presidents and Senators, the SISCAD Minister of Finance and/or Economic Affairs, the heads of government and Finance Ministers of all Caribbean states, and heads of CARICOM and, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and the Association of Caribbean States.

2. The Caribbean Economic Council shall seek to promote free trade, inter-regional trade and manufacturing, and economic development of the Caribbean region.

Part 4 - Finance and Funding

Article 19 - Funding of the State

1. SISCAD shall chiefly be funded and maintained by a voluntary tax of 4% of monthly net income. Citizens shall voluntarily declare their income and 4% of their income, and pay the amount monthly or bimonthly, or they may opt to contribute the accumulated amount annually.

2. SISCAD shall not normally undertake to investigate the veracity of citizens’ declarations and filings, but shall encourage and respect the honesty and good intentions of the citizens. However, where it is found that a citizen has falsely declared and filed taxes resulting in a contribution of less than 4% of monthly income, that citizen’s membership and citizenship may be suspended or terminated.

Part 5 - Amendment

Article 20 - Amendment

This Constitution may only be amended by a 70% majority vote in the Lower House of Parliament, 75% majority vote in the Senate, and simple majority vote in a referendum vote by the citizens of SISCAD.

Schedule/Appendix

(Contributing/Supporting Texts to SISCAD Constitution)