PBS airtime to Dar tal-Providenza 'illegal'

Pule' Carmel

Jan 8th 2010, 20:51

Some years ago, the wife of a serving president also broke the law by wearing a pair of jeans at a particular school and so did most of the students, all in the aid of charity. You see the school prohibited the wearing of the jeans at school and those who were caught wearing one had to pay the head of school a particular fine.
Well on this particular occassion the President's wife and most of the school decided that it would be a good cause to break the law. Maybe the PBS decided that it would not be such a great sin to break the law for a good cause. The president's wife did it, and she was not fined, neither sent to prison nor lost her reputation nor the papers suggested that it was all wrong. I myself laughed my head off at the circumstances when the law is made an ass of.

A. Borg

Jan 8th 2010, 15:41

The law is an ass!

Chris Reiff

Jan 8th 2010, 14:43

J.Mamo many organisations don't make any profit at all, but still have to register. The LAW is the LAW.

Frances Abela

Jan 8th 2010, 13:20

whuy does not PBS offer free airtime to ALL registered NGO's?? It could allocate say 10 mins of space daily to 5 different NGO's with 2 mins each to promote their activities. Its's not fair that some NGO's are treated better than others. Jew kullhadd jew hadd.

J. Scerri

Jan 8th 2010, 12:19

So according to most of the people who are writing here, If someone does something for charity, he is EXCUSED to do everything, even breaking the law, is that right ? This kind of mentality I'm afraid it will leave this country were always was in it's history, behind other CIVILIZED countries of 1000 years.

I really thinks Prof. Wain should resign but not because he is GUILTY of something wrong (after all he'a doing only his job) but because most of this country's citizens deserve to have someone that reflects their image in that position (in other words UN PROVINCIALOTTO),

Pule' Carmel

Jan 7th 2010, 23:46

Please note that the proper manner in which to address a Professor is Prof. and not Profs!

Stephen Florian

Jan 7th 2010, 22:39

So go ahead and resign Professor Wain. Does it not transpire to you that MCCF and Dar tal-Providenza are sacred to us Maltese. Does it not dawn on you that you have personally hurt His Excellency President Abela who is ,whether you like it or not , the First Citizen of Malta. His Excellency the President has put his life , heart and soul in this noble matter. Have you even ever visited Dar tal-Providenza ?

Albert Zammit

Jan 7th 2010, 20:56

Come on guys... We now have someone that can take decisions.
When are we going to show that we 'nkunu ta' l-affarijiet taghna'. It's ok about the run of the mill set-ups that we have on the island but now we're talking about a national identity.
Good on you, Profs. Keep it up.

R. Gauci

Jan 7th 2010, 18:19

Min se joghqod ifittex ma organizzazjonijiet bhall-Community Chest Fund u d-Dar tal-Provvidenza jmissu jisthi. Ahjar jinza l-kappell u jfahhar ix-xoghol siewi li dawn jaghmlu ma dawk il-batuti fis-socjeta` taghna.

Alexandra Borg

Jan 7th 2010, 18:03

@ A. Debono

The MCCF is not just any philanthropic organisation, and I say this not because the Chairmen have always been the Presidents of Malta and prior to Malta being Republic the Governor of Malta was Chairman. But because the Malta Community Chest Fund is the only organisation that donates to individuals and all organisations that apply for help from small requests to requests of substantial amounts (obviously if the application is valid). So this whole issue, when one considers the amount of assistance the MCCF has been giving for all these years so unfair and unjust. Especially now after that Istrina was such a tremendous success with the help of all.

SIMON AMATO

Jan 7th 2010, 15:23

PROFS JAQAW MGHANDEKX X TAGHMEL? L-EWWEL IL-MCCF U ISSA DIN...HALLINA KWIETI SAHHA GEJJIN IL-KONTIJIET TAD DAWL U ILMA GHOLJIN...XTAHSEB???

Alexandra Borg

Jan 7th 2010, 14:38

It's the timing of the whole thing that makes me wonder whether Prof Wain would have commented and given statements in the same way that he did just after the whole Istrina event had the President of Malta been someone else. Then after some days along came the Dar tal-Providenza event..... a good excuse to show Malta that he does not have it against MCCF for not enrolling but to any organisation that is not enrolled.

Come one Prof Wain, would you have felt so sore about the whole issue had you been given some air time to pontificate on the good work that you are doing?

A. debono

Jan 7th 2010, 14:08

The point Pr Wain is trying to make is that, if PBS allow non-registered NGOs to have free airtime then they can allow anyone to have free airtime (if the law he is talking about is not observed).

Would you like it if the political parties or some big companies got free airtime on PBS because the chairperson decided to give it to them? Because all that stops that from happening is this law- which PBS broke for the benefit of these two non-registered NGOS.

This comes from tax-payers money, so i doubt most you would be happy with that scenario
The law makes sense and Pr Wain is right to stand his ground.

Frans Attard

Jan 7th 2010, 13:44

Does the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations gets paid?

J. Mamo

Jan 7th 2010, 12:52

@ Chris Reiff

Well Chris, do you think that they are going to keep the money for themselves. Everybody knows the huge losses that church organisations make in order to help other. You should know better ;)

Chris Reiff

Jan 7th 2010, 11:11

Just because the Church has a big say in Malta, it doesn't mean they are allowed to ignore the law. These organisations know that there is the law and they should abide to it.

What is illegal is illegal. Other NGOs have to abide to this law, so why shouldn't these Church-run institutions abide to them?

Karl Cauchi

Jan 7th 2010, 09:30

Profs Wain just can't understand what ur up too?????? It only seems that ur trying to make some noise.

Duncan Dimech

Jan 6th 2010, 23:10

From what I understand, the airtime is the proprietary of PBS, a public entity.

It is fair that airtime is regulated, but no one should stop any entity from donating/giving some of its assets to a good cause whether it is a monetary asset or not.

Would have Prof Wain complained if PBS donated a painting to be auctioned for the cause or if PBS donated some funds to Dar Tal-Providenza?

PBS could have easily sold the airtime to others and earn money for itself but it decided to give it away by advertising a campaign to help in collecting more funds without asking a dime.

Other stations did the same or a similar so why just complaining about PBS action?

Please note that this is my opinion and it does not reflect any opinion or statement by PBS.

Joseph Micallef

Jan 6th 2010, 22:45

@Mr. Jimmy Magro. Contrary to what you think, people commenting here are not bloggers, and people who write here do not 'blog' - people here are commentators and they just write comments. It's irritating that people keep insisting in using the wrong terminology here just to appear either modern or computer literate when they are not! To blog one needs to be the author of a blog - and thus can be called a blogger.

g. Pace

Jan 6th 2010, 21:41

Ghal darba kont vera kburi li jin Malti!! Urejna kemm minajr rigali irnexilna naghtu ftit inqas min 3 miljuni ta' euri li fiz zmien tal-lum vera difficli taghti xi haga min butek u taghtija lil haddiehor!! Bhala cittadin Malti nejdlek ibni kun ma dawn in nies bil-bzonnijiet specjali u taghraf li il ligijiet mhumiex daqsek imp daqs il hajja helwa ta dawn in nies! Hajja li tiehu gost maghhom ax uma semplici!! PBS Grz fisem dawn in nies tal-airtime tiek bxejn u urejt min huma dawn in nies al ftit tal-hin!! Profs Wain taghmel hafna izjed gid kiku talaq halqek u tirizenja!!! Viva Malta u ic cittadini maltin!!!

fred mallia

Jan 6th 2010, 21:32

prof wain is doing statements do attract the nations attention from what the people must pay attention at this time in point: the exagerated high sky bills for energy and the terrible national debts.... pls profs go to a hiding place......

alfred e. camilleri

Jan 6th 2010, 21:18

Once again Profs Wain has chosen to speak out AFTER the event. He has been in office for quite a few months so, IF HE HAD WANTED TO, he could have made it clear to all concerned that they were acting illegally/irregularly. This was NOT the first year that PBS had
used its airtime top help Dar tal-Providenza. Needless to say that Govt. (through PBS) is only giving back to Dar tal-Providenza a fraction of what this institution is saving the Govt. in running this charity. What if Dar tal Providenza chooses to close down (God forbid).Come on Profs Wain in choosing to speak after the event you're only acting like a spoilsport... JEW NILGHAB JEW INTELLE !!!!

Tarcisio Borg

Jan 6th 2010, 20:55

Ma nistax nifhem ghalfejn dan il-agha kollu. Jafu dawk kollha li qed jikkummentaw li l-Partiti Polotici huma ezentati minn din il-ligi? U allura l-flus li jingabru fil-maratoni li jaghmlu z-zewg partiti politici mhuma accoutabale lejn hadd? U allura ghaliex il-Knisja, f'dan il-kaz id-Dar tal-Providenza ghandha tkun taht il-liogi tal-NGO's? Issemma l-air time li jghati l-PBS.....jafu dawk li qed jikkummentaw li l-Gvern ma jghati xejn lil 100 resident li hemm fid-Dar? Come on....Prof Wain.....mhux ahjar tara x';qed jaghmlu l-Partiti Politici milli tfettaq fuq id-Dar tal-Providenza? Fuq kollox, biex saret il-maratona kellhom il-permessi tal-pulizija li sa ftit ilu INT kont tghid li jew ikunu rregistrati bhala NGO jew il-permess tal-Pulizija.....Huwa minnu li meta xi haga tirnexxi, naraw kif se naqbdu maghha..........

Emanuel Cilia Debono

Jan 6th 2010, 20:34

Both the Malta Community Chest Fund and the Church are performing a community service on a grand national scale. The people's response to their call for contributions was generous, spontaneous and overwhelming. These organisations need support not discouragement. They should not be threatened with legal technicalities which may harm voluntary initiatives without doing any good.
I strongly appeal to legal representatives from the Attorney general's Office, the Church Curia and the President's Office to come together and to solve any legal issues there may be in a spirit of goodwill for the sake of the COMMON GOOD of our community.at large.

A. Calleja

Jan 6th 2010, 19:43

Prof. Wain is 100% right. The reason for not sticking to the procedures is sheer arrogance. In spirit the law should help NGO's and not divide them. Getting free airtime on the national TV network is not a formality. It is a big bonus that is not shared by many other NGO's. The concession given by the minister makes mockery of the law, even if the spirit it was done in is laudible. The President lost a lot of "marks" on this one. He should set an example, swallow hard, and follow the law even if he thinks it's just a formality. Prof Wain should resign but the Prime Minister should not accept his resignation but put things back in line. After all transparency is the hallmark of democratic governments.

GiovDeMartino

Jan 6th 2010, 17:26

Lis-sindku tal-Furjana hafna ferhulu ghax sfida l-ligi!

l. dimech

Jan 6th 2010, 17:20

Too many people write gibberish.

So what if Prof. Wain resigns? You'll need to wait until you find one who'll go to work to warm up his seat - in other words someone without backbone who's too concerned about what they'll be saying about him if he steps on someone's toes?

With Kenneth Wain what you see is what you get - and he's not afraid to call a spade a spade, if that's what he should be doing - why are you shooting the messenger?

If enrolment is mandatory then ALL organisations have to toe the line. If not, then they need to be able to run their mission without any special concessions or favouritism.

The amount of money collected probably is a good indicator that everyone and his brother contributed to these two organisation, so nobody has any special interest in creating problems. Don't be instrumental in alienating people from them.

PLEASE LET US NOT CREATE ' MORE SPECIAL' ORGANISATIONS BECAUSE THEY ALL NEED HELP.

Ron Saliba

Jan 6th 2010, 16:50

the one thing i cannot understand is why go public?!!! If Wain has issues with what happened, he should have sorted them in private.

Michael Seychell

Jan 6th 2010, 16:09

When is this charade going to stop - Have not enough damage been made.

If an acceptable solution is not found a.s.a.p. the worst hit will be those who are in NEED OF ALL THE HELP THEY DESERVE.

ASSISTING THOSE IN NEED IS OUR OBLIGATION. IF THIS IS KEPT IN MIND I AM CONFIDENT THAT THOSE INVOLVED - WILL SOMEHOW FIND AN HONOURABLE SOLUTION.

May I suggest to all commentators, including myself, to stop our comments, and give a few days time to those directly involved, to negotiate an amicable settlement.

Michael Seychell
Tal-Pieta

Michael Seychell

n borg

Jan 6th 2010, 16:00

l-ewwel haga ma nahsibx illi l community chest fund hija NGO, minhabba l-fatta li taqa direttament taht l-stat. l-community Chest Fund hija immexxija mill-President ta' Malta li zgur hua xi haga statatli l-istess l-Community Chest fund hija statali.
id-dar tal-Providena hija isttituzzjoni tal-Knisja, u ghalhekk taqa taht il-Knisja. il-Knisja ma tistax titqies f' livell ta' NGO. Il-Knisja mhix NGO. u ghalhekk ma taghhmilx sens li id-dar tal-providenza u istuzzjonijiet ohra tal-Knisja jierregistaw bhala NGOs ghax huma parti mill Knisja.

Toni Valletta

Jan 6th 2010, 14:48

Why Is It That when the Maltese unite for some good cause there is always someone who wants to divide again? Keep up the good work Malta Community Chest Fund and Dar Tal Providenza.Malta is with You...

Jimmy Magro

Jan 6th 2010, 14:44

@Prof Max Ganado
"Lawyer Max Ganado, who drafted the 2007 law to regulate the voluntary sector, has said that although the MCCF published its accounts it should go a step further and make use of the system in the law to lead by example."

You seem to have a short memory. Please look into Article 39 of the Act and come with your refreshed legal opinion. I have a document from CVO with the signature of Kenneth Wain rejecting our application under Article 39 for the same reasons that MCCF cannot be accepted (not cannot apply) but CANNOT BE ACCEPTED for registration.

Where is the process of national reconciliation when a person undermines the Presidency of the country when he has other democratic avenues to resort to.

Andrew Gatt

Jan 6th 2010, 14:43

OH NO! We contributed to an illegality! We were decieved! We want our money back!

What a nit-picking attitude.

J Martinelli

Jan 6th 2010, 14:15

Whether Prof. Wain resigns or not, is a moot point. There will be a successor if he resigns and the new Commissioner will find himself in the same quandary.

The MCCF's refusal to enroll as an NGO on a 'technical advice' from the AG and PBS' being 'comfortable with the police permit', which, by the way has nothing to do with the requirement, are blatant evidence of sanctioned contravention.

Both MCCF and Dar tal-Providenza provide valuable services respectively and their fund raising efforts should not be curtailed but both should operate within the law or the law amended accordingly.

At present this is a no win situation in both cases since it appears that the anomaly will become an annual beef, casting a shadow over both organizations. It is imperative that steps be taken in order to make both these organizations' and the Commissioner's positions tenable.

Frans Attard

Jan 6th 2010, 14:02

'If this world becomes any more confused than it is now, don't be surprised to see Monkeys tossing peanuts to People.'
Nahseb veru waslet fl'ahhar id-dinja!!!!!!!
'Min m'ghandux dnub iwaddab l-ewwell gebla.' Hekk kien qal xi Hadd.
Ghaziza 'Dar tal-Providenza', inti zbaljajt. Qis li ma tidnibx izjed. Ftakar li biex taghmel karita trid permess.

Alexandra Borg

Jan 6th 2010, 14:01

What a load of rubbish..... the very few times that Maltese Solidarity is shown at it's best along comes someone to stop it.

Eri Gahn

Jan 6th 2010, 13:56

Why should NGO's register with the Govt? What if an NGO is acting against the interest of the Govt on a major project? They do not get funding through this registration entity? They do not get all the support due from this Govt entity due to some registration technicality?

Simone Aquilina

Jan 6th 2010, 13:43

Why should Profs. Wain resign? Just because he is doing his job in a professional way. It is these NGO's who are acting irresponsibly. Although they do sterling work, the problem facing civil society the world over is their lack of transparency and accountability. Unfortunately and intentionally or not, both the Community Chest fund and Dar tal-Providenza are acting in this manner.

Thomas Borg

Jan 6th 2010, 13:36

Are any of the handicapped people having any preferential treatment Mr C Sullivan? Are the sick and the unfortunate having any preferential treatment Mr Sullivan? Shame on you. . This is all a storm in a teacup. We should all be proud that this year's L-Istrina was not a charade but a truly national event worthy of our name as Catholics and Christians to give money without expecting anything in return and for this the merit is the President of Malta HE Dr George Abela. As for Id-dar tal-Providenza all should be ashamed of criticising this truly national charity founded by the late Mons Mikiel Azzopardi.

John Inguanez

Jan 6th 2010, 13:16

Dear Prof Wain, PBS did not give any subsidy, it made a "donation" of airtime. You can look into the past when PBS was actually asked to reserve airtime for charities. Now that it is doing so, you are against.
"Enrolling as an NGO is not compulsory but it makes registered organisations eligible for state benefits and grants, including, for example, free airtime on the state broadcaster, PBS."
But does not mean that non-registered organisations are not entitled. Find me the clause where it prohibits PBS to give free air-time. That would be the point.

Mario Pace

Jan 6th 2010, 12:53

All that Profs Wain is trying to stick his neck out for is only one principle; namely that no one should be above the law , not even the President nor the Church and that the rule of law should prevail. All other comments are superfluous and if we do not want to apply this law to one and all it should be abrogated with retrospective effect.

Frank Muscat

Jan 6th 2010, 12:41

Come on Profs Wain. Have some heart for the residents of Dar tal-Providenza. This event has been going on year after year and nobody has ever complained. You should visit us some day and see for yourself what it entails - for its upkeep and the metaculous service the care workers and volunteers make towards its residents.

Joseph Cauchi

Jan 6th 2010, 12:40

Unbelievable! Incredible!

Now, if we do not like the message we have to kill the messenger!

Is it possible that in this country there are still people with such small minds?

If the “message” (law) is not to our approval, all we have to do is change it.

It is the responsibility of the Government to change the law if it happens that there are some lacunae in it.

The Commissioner Kenneth Wain is doing his job as he is ought to. Period.

We need people like the Commissioner who are serious and dedicated to their job and not people who play for the gallery.

Let’s not turn this country into a country of “Mickey Mouse”, please!

JC.

Anthony Farrugia

Jan 6th 2010, 12:27

Methinks this is the one and only New Year resolution made by Prof Kenneth Wain !
If the MCCF had legal advise from the AG way back in 2007, why has Prof Wain only gone on the war path in January 2010? Had he raised the matter when President Emeritus Fenech Adami was still in office ? Now he has also got Dar tal-Providenza in his sights. I do not think he should stop at threatening to resign but he should actually clear his desk and go enjoy his well-earned retirement.

Joseph Scerri

Jan 6th 2010, 12:25

Profs. ghamel pjacir lilek inniffsek u lil Malta, irrizenja, ghal anqas nejdu li zammejt kelmtek.

S. Gatt

Jan 6th 2010, 12:25

I fully agree with Prof. Wain. What is the problem to enroll as an NGO? As one can read they have a lot of advantages when doing so. Well done Prof. Wain, the church is not superior to the Maltese laws.

R. Spiteri

Jan 6th 2010, 12:15

Dear PBS chairman Clare Thake Vassallo,

I suggests that you take a look at the PBS website www.pbs.com.mt and click on the "Fondi ghal ghaqdiet filantropici" look at points 3 and 19. PBS broke both rules when you gave air time to Dar Tal Providenza...... u ha nibqu sejjrin hekk.....

Inti taf x'inti tejd?

Grazzi

Jimmy Magro

Jan 6th 2010, 12:10

@louise vella
I believe that before you blog, you take some time off to read the relevant piece of legislation.

@kenneth wain
plse quote the relevant section of the law. what are the remedial actions if someone at PBS or Dar tal-Providenza technically broke the law? Are you going to put them in prison?

@bloggers
I ws the first one to call for resignation of the CVO. I am glad so many bloggers came to the same conclusion.

C Hili

Jan 6th 2010, 12:01

What’s the point of having a law that only regulates those who don’t have the power to bypass it?

This is the key question that most commentators are ignoring.

I will try my best to summarize the key facts.
1. There is a law
2. The small NGOs have been BULLIED to abide by this law
3. MCCF and Dar tal-Providenza ignored the law
4. MCCF did so with the help of the Minister
5. Dar tal-Providenza still has to clarify furhter

I do not question the credibility of MCCF and even less of Dar tal-Providenza. However the question remains:

What’s the point of having a law that only regulates those who don’t have the power to bypass it?

Olvin Vella

Jan 6th 2010, 11:46

X'inhu l-iskop tal-Gvern li jagħmel liġijiet ġodda biex imbagħad hu u l-entitajiet tiegħu jiksruhom? Prosit lil Wain tal-konsistenza tiegħu. Għajb għall-Gvern.

Dan mhux argument kontra d-Dar tal-Providenza. Dan hu argument kontra l-abbuż.

L. Dimech

Jan 6th 2010, 11:46

Any law which isn't enforced is not worth the paper it's written on.

I am very surprised at this stance by the CCF. I would have thought that one of the first things Dr. Abela would have done was get CCF in line where needed. If CCF is so desperate for funds and registration of CCF would enable it, amongst other benefit, to acquire some more funds, getting stubborn isn't helping the cause at all.

May I suggest that before things really come to a head with both sides unwilling to lose face, maybe Prof. Wain could quantify the benefits of CCF becoming an NGO with CCF actively considering what would at the end of the day benefit the fund,

I have no doubt that all those people who donated any amount would feel happier knowing the CCF is part of a larger persona, which would enable it to benefit more. We should leave personal agendas out of such considerations. Or are we going back to those dark days when we go from behind to THE MINISTER and get concessions? This is setting a very bad example by people who should know better.

C Gatt

Jan 6th 2010, 11:24

Dear Mr. Galea,
perhaps you should read Ms Vella's comment before calling for resignations.

Ramon Casha

Jan 6th 2010, 11:22

Prof. Wain ... RESIGN !

Simon Grima

Jan 6th 2010, 11:20

Hats off to Professor Wain for acting in the country's best interest. It sounds very fishy why Dar Tal-Providenza and MCCF would not register as an NGO... Raises more than one eyebrow.

Prof Wain is a true gentleman, with genuine principles who is willing to resign in the face of continuing malpractice by these two NGOs.

Christian Sciberras

Jan 6th 2010, 11:11

I agree with Prof Wain. The law is for and above everyone, no exceptions whatsoever.

@louise vella - Let's go back into counting taxes on our bare hands, shall we? Oh wait, that's how existing tax departments are *still* working.
Progress? Not in Malta!

laurence schembri

Jan 6th 2010, 11:06

What`s next? Please!

Noel Zarb

Jan 6th 2010, 11:03

What exactly are you trying to achieve Mr. Wain?????????? Because I am sensing a nice pattern here against charities who are collecting money in telethon. I would much rather stop the endless telethons by the Political Parties than try to slam the MCCF and Dar tal-Providenza, even though the Political Parties need money too.

I agree with Ms. Vella, this law should be scrapped. Kenneth Wain is just using it to promote himself as what happened in the EU Campaign. Next thing we know, we're gonna see him on Xarabank!

Last I checked, 'il-Maltin huma qalbhom tad-deheb biex jaghtu flus lil dawk inqas ixxurtjati'...well Mr. Wain, leave PBS, MCCF and Dar tal-Providenza alone...do us a favour and find another bone to pick...not charity...just think of the families of the people who need the money.

Jennifer Micallef

Jan 6th 2010, 10:56

Wain's world ?? - You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll hurl (with apologies to Paramount Pictures)

J. Mamo

Jan 6th 2010, 10:55

U daqs kemm isiru affarijiet "Technically Illegal", fuq din ha naqbdu ghax ingabru flus ghal gid.

Mike Farrugia

Jan 6th 2010, 10:55

Does enrolling with the commissioner prevent people from applying for benefits from different NGOs at the same time? Does the system prevent abuse?
What are the disadvantages for such honourable NGOs to abide by the Law? Does the law need some fine tuning?

J. Mamo

Jan 6th 2010, 10:52

Uwejja issa jekk ingabru l-flus li ha jintuzaw ghal hafna gid ha noqghodu nghidu li illegali. Jien hadt gost li ghallinqas hadu free airtime mill-istat, li huma flus tat- taxxi. Kellu bzonn flusna kollha li naghtu lura ghax taxxi jintefqu b'ghan nobbli daqshekk!

Duncan Bartolo

Jan 6th 2010, 10:49

An NGO - Non governmental Organization - an organization that receives no grants the Government or any other Institution

At least that is what i understand as an NGO.

Ernest Vella

Jan 6th 2010, 10:49

Prof. Kenneth Wain - jaghmel grandissmu pjacir lill-poplu Malti jekk jirrezenja. Il-PBS ihallsu l-poplu Malti, u l-poplu Malti wera bic-car li jrid jghin kemm lill-Istrina - Community Chest Fund u kemm lid-Dar tal-Providenza....zewg entitajiet li bla tlaqliq kulhadd jammetti li ma jharsu lejn wicc hadd imma jghinu kif jistghu lil min hu fil-bzonn.

Jekk il-PBS "kisret xi ligi" ghal darba mela ghamlet sew...lanqas il-Partiti Politici ma fethu halqhom...u ma jigiex jghid dwar NGO u mhux ghax fil-verita imnalla kienet il-Knisja bid-Dar tal-Providenza ghax dawn in-nies b'dizabilta ma kienux issibu min jiehu hsiebhom...jekk hemm xi ligi ghanda titwarrab ghax hija bla sens...tehodha ma nies li dak li jaghmlu jaghmluh bla qliegh anzi johorgu minn buthom...

Prosit lil PBS chairman Clare Thake Vassallo u l'kull min ta l-opportunita lid-Dar tal-Providenza biex tigbor il-flus li gabret...ghal darba hadd ma jista jghid li l-Licenzja tal-PBS inhallsuha ghal xejn...Vox Populis Vox Dei...kif jghidu

louise vella

Jan 6th 2010, 10:48

The MCCF’s audited accounts are accessible on:
http://www.maltacommunitychestfund.org/mccf/Pages/Accounts.aspx.

I’m not expert so I invite commentators to see if I’m right or wrong. The accounts for the year ended March 2008 say 13 organisations received up to €1000, 10 received €5000 each, and 2 more than €5000 each. The organisations are not identified. This is unsatisfactory. Maybe they should be identified.

The accounts for the year ended March 2009 say Individuals and entities together received about €900 000. The individuals are not identified and this is reasonable. Neither are the entities: I think this is unreasonable, they should each be identified with the sum given to each one of them.

m zammit

Jan 6th 2010, 10:45

Dear profs wain i think you should do yourself and us a favour and resign.

Dr Audrey Jones

Jan 6th 2010, 10:44

Prof. Wain, please carry out your threat then. Thank you.

d.attard

Jan 6th 2010, 10:43

here we have heavyweight organisations, well served by legal support, dealing as best they can with national bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is crucial to any nation but must provide clear paths with the least fuss and maximum confidence.

When it dilly dallies it creates wobbly ground and renders each citizen helplessly vulnerable

now just imagine your average lone joe blogs, dealing with departmental claims and counter-claims, in between flu and the submission of mind-numbing returns, without the status, standing, knowledge and negotiating skills of church and state organizations ...i have seen people just give up and surrender to chronic poverty...

the civil service may have, in my opinion, rendered our political system redundant.

now this may be an opportunity for a populist president to take up the plight of the lonely people who stand overwhelmed in front of an amorphous Bureaucracy

C Sullivan

Jan 6th 2010, 10:43

I have been following this controversial issue and agree 100% with Prof Wain. Nobody is above the law and preferential treatment should be a thing of the past. There are many organisations in need of funds and it is unfair on organisations that do not carry as much clout, to be marginalised in such ways. We are arriving at a point once again, where the big win. Instead of formulating a co-operative structure, we are creating a competitive one.

Lewis Balzan

Jan 6th 2010, 10:36

The bottom line, main scope, end result - call it what you like - was always to collect funds for people in need both in the Istrina campaign and even more so in the Dar tal-Providenza marathon. Any technical illegalities there might have been wane into insignificance when weighed against the wealth of benevolence resulting from both charity campaigns.

Ivan Tabone

Jan 6th 2010, 10:36

So despite this being illegal, the only action Prof. Wain can take is to resign from his office. I don't think that is a threat that can be taken seriously by Dar tal-Providenza or MCCF. It wouldn't change anything for them or for anyone else if Prof. Wain resigns.

This is now turning into a farce. The Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations threatening two voluntary organisations despite them raising almost €3M! Another case from the Only In Malta series!

Randolph De Battista

Jan 6th 2010, 10:34

Profs Wain,
exactly, what is your problem? You should indeed call it a day before thinking of the next charity organisation to attack.

J.Borg

Jan 6th 2010, 10:34

Give us a break Profs Waine and do what you been saying that you will do and "RESIGN".
Why all this hype now about NGO's etc....weren't these organisations there before!!!!!!!!!!

Matthew Azzopardi

Jan 6th 2010, 10:33

u mela irizenja ghax izejjed kollu zejjed issa!

Muscat. Pat

Jan 6th 2010, 10:33

Peress li pajjizna kollox jimxi fuq ir-rubini u l-Amministrazzjoni fitta hafna biex tkun perfetta, ezatta, u accountable, this must come as a joke; the best one for 2009 and 2010! We should thank God that there are voluntary organizations like the Dar, who take care of our people. Accountability for the Dar but not for Ministers and Quangoes who are responsible for the mess we are in! Oqbra imbajda!

wally vella-zarb

Jan 6th 2010, 10:31

So where is the problem? 'Technically', the PBS has made a donation in kind, consisting of a number of hours of free air time, towards the event. Is there a law that says they cannot make such a donation? At the end of the day, everybody can see where the donation has gone; PBS did not make any monetary gain to the detriment of the targeted beneficiary or to any of the other donors. It is not a case where blocks of apartments were built with part of the proceeds of a fund-raiser - as has happened in the past and which was one of the main reasons for the setting up of the 'watchdog' that is meant to be led by Prof Wain.

If, in the interest of transparency and accountability, we are drifting away from being rational and practical, then perhaps it is time for the relevant law - or Prof Wain - to be changed.

Dennis Borg

Jan 6th 2010, 10:31

Profs Wain, your position is now untenable. You should tender your immediate resignation from Commissioner of Volontary Organisations. You are not fit to carry out your true duties. You should help Volontary Organisations especially real charities such as Id Dar tal-Providenza. You opted to declare war on a God inspired charity and now you will have to reap the consequences. Hence your resignation is demanded by people of goodwill. As for Louise Vella, this law was not enacted to stifle volontary organisations but to help them. Those who dont want to register should be free to do so and the Curia is not involved in this beaurocrac. Those who want to help catholic charities are free to do so but not through the point of a gun on their heads.

ABORG

Jan 6th 2010, 10:30

airtime or no airtime....if an organisation resorts to the public for donations, it should at least be registered lawfully....even though it may be run by the church..

P Borg

Jan 6th 2010, 10:29

The law on the voluntary sector is just another bureaucratic monster to create positions of prestige. People working in this sector should be assisted and not hindered by bureaucracy. Whereas I tend to agree that whoever collects funds from the public needs to be policed, this law has gone overboard. Why should a volunteer go through the bureaucratic steps of registering, paying exorbitant audit fees, sending annual forms, etc and therefore wasting precious time resources which should be simply dedicated to his mission in the first place?

If I were a member of one of the 350 enrolled organisations, I would de-register with immediate effect.

G.Micallef

Jan 6th 2010, 10:27

@Prof. Wain

What is lying beneath all this? Is it prime time to roar? I am just asking!

Mark Galea

Jan 6th 2010, 10:18

Dear Profs. Kenneth Wain
Seem now that it is inevitable that you should resign.

Kevin Abela

Jan 6th 2010, 10:16

I think all this is ridiculous to say the least. Airtime is the LEAST 'Dar tal- Providenza' can be given. It deserves much more help from the government than that!

Jennifer Mifsud

Jan 6th 2010, 10:15

Prof. Wain said a police permit had nothing to do with the issue at hand. "A police permit simply enables you to collect money. It does not qualify you for state benefits, which includes airtime on PBS. That is what the law says," he insisted.

I don't mind paying taxes for the state to provide benefits for people who DEPEND on others because of disabilities. How are these people supposed to live?

Malcolm Mifsud

Jan 6th 2010, 10:15

By the looks of it, there's something deeper running

louise vella

Jan 6th 2010, 10:11

So we made a new law with a lot of fanfare and we thought it would introduce legality, transparency, accountability - in brief, a bit of order - into a disorderly system that had existed for ages. Now we find that the Curia was not keen to abide by the law, because the absence of the law had never prevented the Church from collecting money, often without transparency and without giving an account for it. The President thinks it is only a whim that his MCCF should abide by the law. Maybe the government should just scrap the law and we go on without it as we did before.