Section 1: General provisions

The representative of the State in French Guyana shall refer the matter to the Amerindian and Bushinenge customary and traditional authorities so that they designate from within their ranks the customary chiefs called upon to represent them on the Great Customary Council of the Amerindian and Bushinenge populations, referred to in 1° and 2° of Article L. 7124-12.

The order of the representative of the State in French Guyana establishing the composition of the Grand Customary Council of the Amerindian and Bushinenge populations is published in the Recueil des actes administratifs of the Prefecture of French Guyana.

The Customary Grand Council decides by a majority of the members present or represented. In the event of a tie, the President has the casting vote. The opinions of the Customary Grand Council mention the positions of the minorities. The representative of the State in French Guyana, or his representative, may attend meetings of the Great Customary Council without the right to vote. He may be heard at his request.

When not deputised, a member of the Customary Grand Council may give a mandate to another member. No person may hold more than one mandate.

The Customary Grand Council may only validly deliberate if half of its members are present, including members taking part in the debates by means of a telephone or audiovisual conference, or having given a mandate. If the quorum is not reached, the Customary Grand Council is reconvened on the next working day on the same agenda. It then sits validly regardless of the number of members present or represented.

The operating expenses of the Customary Grand Council are borne by the State. The secretariat of the Grand Customary Council is provided by the services of the State representative in French Guiana.

Members of the Customary Grand Council perform their duties free of charge. Travel and subsistence expenses incurred by members of the Customary Grand Council may be paid under the conditions set by the regulations applicable to State civil servants.

Sessions of the Customary Grand Council are public, unless a decision to the contrary is made at the request of at least half of the members of the Customary Grand Council. The opinions and deliberations adopted by the Customary Grand Council are officially published in the administrative records of the Prefecture of French Guyana. The opinions and deliberations adopted by the Customary Grand Council are the subject of official publication…