The following is a draft document for discussion at the first meeting of the UKPACOC to be held on 17th November 1997. It lays out the purpose and aim of the committee, the constitution of its members and their duties and responsibilities.

The UKPACOC is convened as a result of an open call by Hackney Black People's Association to the African (Black) community in the British Isles. Its purpose and aims are:

a) primarily to organise a three day national Pan-African Congress from the 15-17 August 1998, the hundred and eleventh birthday of Marcus Mosiah Garvey on the specific topic of What is to be Done?

b) to inspire, educate, agitate and mobilise our people both nationally and internationally around the question of what is to be done and

c) lay the foundation for a major Global African Strategy Congress in 2000 to commemorate and celebrate the first Pan-African Conference in 1900.

Membership

Membership is open to any African (Black) person or organisation who will commit themselves to do the works necessary to achieve the above stated objectives of the UKPACOC.

Decisions will be taken on a one member one vote simple majority basis.

Organisations can be represented at meetings by any number of its members but only one named person can vote as or on behalf of the organisation.

Membership of the committee will remain open to individuals and organisations joining later providing they are bringing a particular skill or facility to the group that is needed to achieve our objective and the majority of the our members approve.

Duties and Responsibilities

Those of us who will be bold enough to answer this open call will be committing ourselves to do work, work and more work.

The UKPACOC will not be a talking shop. The Congress will be the place for that.

Of course, before reaching consensus on any issue, we will have to discuss them thoroughly enough to the point of understanding by all. Once a decision has been taken it will be swiftly and efficiently executed by those responsible for its execution.

Any individual representing an organisation will be deemed to have the authority to participate in the UKPACOC as if he or she was that organisation and make decisions which will be binding on their organisation in pursuit of the previously accepted goals of the UKPACOC.

Once a person (individual or representative) has agreed to perform a task, it will be their responsibility to determine the most efficient and effective means of executing it unless such means had been built into the task.

Any organisation or individual member of the UKPACOC who does not pull their weight will be unceremoniously expelled from the group by the majority.

We know that because of the openness of the call various disruptive and undermining elements will find their way into the committee (see COINTELPRO UK) either to do a job on behalf of their non-African bosses or on their own behalf to try to prevent others, whom they may see as competitors for the mantle of "leader" or spokesperson of the African community, from achieving our aims.

But in this case, they will not be a problem as long as they do the work (the key word is work). It should not matter to the rest of us who our "colleagues" may be employed by or why as long as they do the work they commit themselves to by joining the committee. In doing the necessary work conscientiously and efficiently they would be advancing the interests of Global Africa and would effectively be working against the interest of our enemies.

Any person or organisation who do not fulfil their promise will expose themselves as either incompetent or deliberately counterproductive. In which case they would be removed from their post and possibly removed from the UKPACOC.

All actions, including statements, of members of the committee while representing the committee whether positive or negative will be openly acknowledged by all other members and credit will be given to whoever does whatever he or she does.

In order to provide an accurate representation to our community of our activities on their behalf all meetings of the UKPACOC will be recorded at least on audio tape if not audio-visually.

All financial transactions by or on behalf of the UKPACOC will be studiously recorded and made available to all committee members.

A full accounting of the process up to and including the UK Pan-African Congress will be made available to the UK African community within one month after the 17th August 1998.

Remember, only African people who are prepared to do the necessary work to achieve our above stated objectives need answer this call. Are you with us?

Your comments are welcome, even if you can't be at the inaugural meeting on the 17th.

May the Ancestors guide and protect you on our way.
SR