• The Board of Directors shall be the second highest organ of the BDI and shall be composed of the President, Vice President 1, Vice President 2, CEO, Governor of URR, one representative from Council of Elders/Advisers, and
    one other selected member. The General Secretary will serve as the Secretary to the Board of Directors.
  • The Board shall have an Annual General Meeting that shall be held not later than 30th March of each year. The Annual General meetings shall be held on a rotational basis in each of the five sub-regions of the URR.
  • Any one-third of the members may convene an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting by signing and submitting a petition to the General Secretary, which petition shall state the reason for the meeting and request the CEO to convene the meeting within a period of two weeks from the date of the petition.
  • The Quorum for any meeting of the BDI shall be 5% of the total membership, provided there is as much equitable representation of members from each of the five URR Sub-Regions as possible amongst the members present.
The Board of Directors: Composition, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Actions.

Composition

The Board of Directors shall be composed of the President, Vice President 1, Vice President 2, CEO, the Governor of URR, one representative from the Council of Elders/Advisers and one (1) Selected Member. The General Secretary will be the
Secretary to the Board of Directors.

Responsibilities

  • To formulate Policies and Regulations for the proper conduct of the BDI’s business.
  • To oversee the Implementation of the BDI’s Policies by the Secretariat.
  • To prepare and forward for consideration of the General Assembly the Annual Activities Reports, Annual Budget Estimates and Financial and Audited Accounts of the BDI.
  • To Appoint Thematic and Working Committees to address specific issues in line with the Objectives of the Organization as stated in this Constitution.
  • To set up Committees to Fundraise and Mobilize resources for the BDI.
  • To Formulate the Staff Rules and Regulations for the Personnel within the Secretariat.
  • To Appoint the Chief Executive Officer and other Officers of the Secretariat.
  • To receive and consider applications for membership to the BDI, subject to ratification by the General Assembly.
  • To undertake any other functions as shall be delegated by the General Assembly.
  • To receive recommendations and proposals for the amendment or repeal of rules made by the General Assembly.
  • The Board of Directors shall meet once every three months, and the meetings of the Board of Directors shall be convened by the General Secretary.
  • The President shall chair all the meetings of the General Assembly and of the Board of Directors, and in his or her absence the Vice-President 1, and in the absence of both, the council shall elect the chair.
  • The President shall be the official spokesperson of the BDI, and in his or her absence, the Vice President 1. The Chief Executive Officer may, in consultation with or upon delegation from the Board of Directors, also act as the spokesperson of the BDI.
  • The Vice President 1 shall be the focal Person in The Gambia and the Sub-Region.
  • The Vice President 2 shall be the focal Person in the Diaspora.
  • The General Secretary will be the Head of Finance and Administration. The General Secretary shall ensure prudent, efficient and proper management of the BDI’s finances and shall submit quarterly financial reports to the Board of Directors to be considered at the Council’s meetings.

Disciplinary Actions

A member of the Board of Directors shall lose their seat on the Board of Directors in any of the following circumstances:
  • Abuse of Office (When two thirds (2/3) of Executive or General Membership agree on the abuse committed.)
  • Failure to attend FIVE (5) meetings of the Board of Directors, without a reasonable cause.
  • Mental or Physical incapacity rendering the member unable to conduct their duties as a member of the Board of  Directors.
  • Conduct deemed contrary by two thirds (2/3) of Executive or General Membership to the Objectives of the BDI as contained in this Constitution.
  • Convicted of a non-Political Criminal Offence and Sentenced to a Custodial term of not less than six (6) months.