I was planning to remain above this controversy but I am overcome by events. Regarding the matter of participation in meeting, location is hardly an issue. After all, most LACRALO meetings are held in cyberspace! Secondly, meetings are based on the open meeting principle; *Any* and *everyone* can participate in any LACRALO meeting from *anywhere* on the planet, certain conditions applied. Now, to the matter of representation. There is a residency clause for qualified candidates. Here's the relevant text from Clause 8 of the LACRALO Operating Principles, as adopted: "The selected representatives shall be members of various ALSs, have their main places of residence in countries of the region,and their nationalities must be distinct." Here's the thing. The context is not only about the qualification for service but also the *term* of service. This is the sub-clause of critical importance: "have their main places of residence in countries of the region.." Note the plural form! You may not read Clause 8 in serene ignorance of or disconnected from the contents of the following Clause 9. At the time when these Principles were being developed, I can recall a lot of argumentation on whether the word 'domiciled' should be used. Like it or not, these are legal documents. We continue to struggle with a common understanding of terms, a situation that is due to differences in our socialization. The common law understanding of the term, the Caribbean understanding, is different from the civil law understanding, typical of Latin America. As it turned out, we though the term 'main *places* of residence' would be clearer. To argue interpretation absent context is, at best, a contribution to noise. Make a careful reading of the evidence trail extracted in such great detail by the LACRALO Chair. Then assess in context of the Principles. On balance, the arguments that the member from Chile is a qualified candidate from LACRALO to the ALAC cannot prevail. - Carlton Samuels ============================== Carlton A Samuels Mobile: 876-818-1799 *Strategy, Planning, Governance, Assessment & Turnaround* =============================