Sir Shridath Ramphal, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Dies

It is with deep sadness that the Chairperson and Board of Trustees announce the passing of Sir Shridath Ramphal, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth.

The Ramphal Institute emerged from the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, which formed part of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London. It was the project of the second Head of the CPSU, Alan Perry, an international lawyer and son of the first Vice Chancellor of the Open University in the United Kingdom, Lord (Walter) Perry. Mr Perry believed that a policy studies institution could flourish better outside a university and so in the course of 2007 what was to become the Ramphal Institute separated from the CPSU, which continued for another six years. Mr Perry obtained the permission of Sir Shridath Ramphal to rename the Ramphal Centre for Commonwealth Policy Studies, the Ramphal Centre at the time of its formal launch in 2008. This later changed to the Ramphal Institute. It was launched in the presence of Sir Shridath and many dignitaries at Marlborough House, the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.

Sir Shridath was Chair of the West lndian Commission whose report in 1992 titled a Time for Change made detailed recommendations for the future of the Caribbean region to Caribbean Heads of Government. Sir Shridath held several high level appointments during his life including Special Advisor to the Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), Co-Chair of the Commission on Global Governance, President of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and Chair of the International Steering Committee of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Leadership in Environmental and Development (LEAD) Programme, Head of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM), Chancellor of the University of Guyana from 1990 to 1992, Chancellor of the University of the West Indies and the University of Warwick in Britain. He also served on each of the five independent international commissions which considered global issues: the Brandt Commission on International Development, the Palme Commission on Disarmament and Security Issues, the Brundtland Commission on Environment and Development, the Independent Commission on International Humanitarian Issues and the South Commission.

Sir Shridath’ s commitment extended beyond the Commonwealth and he was a passionate internationalist who believed deeply in the unity of humanity, viewing our planet Earth as the shared home of one human race. In all his endeavours, his ultimate aspiration was to contribute to a world built on fairness, equity, and peace. This is an aspiration which he achieved.

 

 

The Ramphal Institute on 21^st November 2023 changed its registered status from a Charitable Incorporate Company (CIC) to that of a foundation type Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), making it one of the first Commonwealth organisations in England and Wales to adopt the new legal status.

The new registered status as a CIO required the Institute to adopt a new legal structure using legislation which came into effect in 2018 for non-profit organisations and charities. As a result of this change, the Institute is now registered with only the Charities Commission and is no longer subject to company legislation or registered with Companies House.

Beyond the changes in terms of legal personality, the shift to Foundation CIO status has important implications for the Institute and the main benefits have to do with its legal personality (the Institute is now able to enter contracts, sue and be sued, and to hold property in its own name – rather than in the name of its trustees), and its members have limited liability (their liability in the event the charity becomes insolvent is limited or nil). The shift to CIO status is also expected to be more cost-effective and simpler structure than a company limited by guarantee, especially as it relates to filing of its accounts.

The shift does not affect the priority areas of work or the programmes and activities offered by the Institute.

The Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) is an alternative legal form for a charity. Part 11 of the Charities Act 2011 creates the basic legal framework, complemented by the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (General) Regulations 2012, the Charities Act 2011 (Charitable Incorporated Organisations) (Constitutions) Regulations 2012 and the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Insolvency and Dissolution) Regulations 2012. Regulations to enable the conversion of existing charitable companies and community interest companies to charitable incorporated organisations came into force on 1 January 2018 (although applications for conversion of community interest companies will apparently not be accepted until September 2018 and further guidance is expected from the Charity Commission).