The NGO law cannot be circumvented

Reference is made to the December 3 editorial of The Times with the title Church Organisations And The NGO Law. The talks between the Church and the Office of the Prime Minister about the enrolment issue started in 2008. I have not been part of those talks nor am I represented on them by my legal adviser or anyone else, nor is the National Council for the Voluntary Sector for that matter. From the beginning, the talks were strictly between the government and the Curia. Though I was updated on the exchange between the two sides up to January of this year I am not now informed of the “further exchanges and proposals” referred to in the editorial. As commissioner, my consistent view about correctness has been that the law must be observed and enforced as it is while these exchanges are in progress and cannot be selectively circumvented or ignored until a “final decision” is taken such as this may be.

Applying the law consistently and requiring all voluntary organisations in Malta to abide by the requirements of accountability and transparency in the receipt of public funds cannot be read as “hindering” anyone’s work.