NGO Commissioner Kenneth Wain will not resign
Voluntary Organisations Commissioner Kenneth Wain will not be resigning despite the government’s intention to grant Church organisations a ministerial exemption to benefit from state donations.
Most of the Church’s voluntary organisations are not enrolled with the NGOs Commissioner and by law they cannot receive donations from state entities, such as the Malta Community Chest Fund.
However, the ministerial exemption neutralises the law’s effect and will make Church organisations eligible for donations from the annual charity telethon L-Istrina, organised by the MCCF.
“No, it is not a good idea,” Prof. Wain said when asked whether he would resign after a government spokesman announced ministerial discretion could be used. “The law gives the minister discretion to issue an exemption,” Prof. Wain said.
Earlier this year, in the wake of a controversy about the legal status of the MCCF, Prof. Wain had threatened to resign if his authority continued to be undermined. Eventually, a solution was found with the MCCF now being considered a state organisation.
President George Abela last week denied that unregistered Church organisations would not benefit from this year’s L-Istrina. He was reacting to comments by Prof. Wain a week earlier who pointed out that state entities could only donate money to registered organisations.
A government spokesman later said voluntary organisations were urged to enrol with the NGOs Commissioner but the government would not hinder their work until a final decision regarding their status was taken.
The ministerial exemption for Church organisations elicited harsh criticism from Alternattiva Demokratika with chairman Michael Briguglio describing the situation “a farce” and “untenable”.
Enrolling with the commissioner brought with it certain rights and duties, and various NGOs and voluntary organisations, he added, took the option.
“Certain organisations which are choosing not to enrol generate a lot of revenue, yet are refusing to be transparent. This is unfair on voluntary organisations which are transparent in their activities and how they are financed,” Mr Briguglio said, urging the government to back Prof. Wain’s call for equal treatment of all voluntary organisations.
Mr Briguglio said it did not make sense for the government to pilot legislation and then encourage organisations to ignore it by leaving Prof. Wain “to carry the can on his own”.
The reasons for the Church’s objection to enlist its NGOs are not clear despite a year of discussions with the government and the NGOs Commissioner to find a solution.
Asked to comment on the topic, Archbishop Paul Cremona said the Curia would be issuing a statement in the coming days.
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Alex Ellul
Dec 1st 2010, 16:20
Prof. Wain is caught between the Scylla and Charybdis of political correctness and the law, compounded by the Church's presence in this storm in a tea cup.
Let me explain: The Church is supposed to be the epitome of honesty. As a believer in its honesty, I do not demand or even begin to think that donations collected by the Church's org’s need to be audited. We donate to the Church’s organisations ONLY because we blindly trust in them and their operations. Does anyone have any doubts on the Dar tal-Providenza, Caritas, etc? Would anyone ask for auditing Mother Teresa?
Where does political responsiblity and political intrusions stop and start? There must be a line drawn somewhere. We say: Political correctness stops here. No tresspassing by politicians.
One more thing. Auditing costs money. Money that can buy food for the hungry, medicines for the sick and a roof for the homeless. OTOH, auditors are rich people.
And: Most (>50%) of the money collected by international orgs is wasted on bureaucracy .
What has Alternattiva demokratika got to doin this story? It only represents a single percentage fraction of the Maltese population.
wally vella-zarb
Dec 1st 2010, 23:37
"Would anyone ask for auditing Mother Teresa? "
Actually, that would not have been a bad idea at all. People would have known how much of the money that they donated went into building new convents instead of being channelled towards the sick and the needy. On the other hand, it could have been a case of 'Charity begins at home' - literally.
Christian Sciberras
Dec 2nd 2010, 02:47
See, you mix up two things completely. So you're saying we should free the church from bureaucracy and let others live with it?
If anything, this would be discrimination against non-religious NGOs.
If the system isn't fair for the Church it wouldn't be for anyone else.
Just as the Church has its agenda, other NGOs have one as well. Just think of it, what if we get Orthodox NGOs? Do we get clashes between them just because someone decided Roman Catholicism is "special"/"trusted"?
By the way, sorry to burst your bubble over trust, but considering certain priests' deeds, the Church isn't exactly reliable..........
Gejtu Xuereb
Dec 1st 2010, 16:19
Kif go dal-pajjiz partit bhal AD li ma ngabarx fl-ahhar elezzjoni ewropeja jinghata daqshekk imprtanza imbghad ohrajn li marru ahjar jitwarrbu fil-genb?
Christian Sciberras
Dec 2nd 2010, 02:41
Because AD seem to be tackling a real issue which the others can't even start to think about?!
Louise Vella
Dec 1st 2010, 14:43
In Malta the State and the Church are separate - the Church is above the State which exempts the Church from the laws passed by the State. What is a Church NGO anyway?
Christian Sciberras
Dec 2nd 2010, 02:40
I'm impressed. Do you really believe that?
We're in the 21st century and there's still some people that seem to be living in the middle ages!
The Church is not above the State. Church officials are to present legal documents just like any other individual as well as other legal obligations.
Mario Pace
Dec 1st 2010, 14:28
Profs Wain has acted with great integrity and respect for the law during this whole sad saga. However now that he has been neutralised by greater powers he has become a toothless enforcer; all bark but no bite. He should resign in order to retain the respect he has garnered throughout his illustrious career.
Christian Sciberras
Dec 1st 2010, 13:15
Ernest Vella et al - The Church is not above the law.
Why should it be exempt from paying taxes and I'm not?
If anything, thanks to Divine Providence, it's the Church that should be paying more than I am!!
Did you forget how many Church-owned area is there out there?
I concur with Prof Wain on this one, even if the Church declared I'd end up ten levels in hell for this.
Eventually the common good will reign, no matter how many greedy false prophets are out there.
D Vella
Dec 1st 2010, 13:12
All funds to charities,no matter the source should be open to public scrutiny subject to audited accounts for all to see. Until then I will not donate and I urge others to do likewise.
Oscar Cassar
Dec 1st 2010, 13:08
Prof. Wain... prosit li ghamilt xoghlok sew skond il-ligi li ghamel l-legislatur.
Ernest Vella
Dec 1st 2010, 11:46
jiggeneraw hafna flus....ahjar nghidu kemm jonfqu flus minn buthom bl-ebda qliegh finanzjarju minnhom...tohrog it-tfal tan-nies...hemm ghaqdiet kull nhar ta Hadd...u ma jehdulhom flus...jew jehdulhom b'kemm itaffu l-ispejjez.
insostni l-punt li le, l-Knisja mhijiex NGO imma hija ferm iktar min hekk...u mhux ser ikun xi Kummissarju li jghid il-Knisja kif ghandha tmexxi.
C. Muscat
Dec 1st 2010, 12:39
Naqbel perfettament.
It would be unfair to treat Church organisation as in bad light. If any organisation needs to be checked there are ways and means but not o put all in bad light as if someone needs to know how much voluntary time and money is being spent to help and educate our neighbour.
Yes, dear Archbishop, Malta and its government should be grateful to such an institution resulting in so much benevolence.
One has to note that anyone is free not to donate at all. Only free donations of time and money are accepted.
I am one that gave and will continue to give for so many good causes.
Mark Galea
Dec 1st 2010, 12:51
agree 100%