It may generate a feel-good factor but the charity telethon l-Istrina was a cause of disquiet for the Voluntary Organisations Commissioner.

In his forward to last year’s annual report, Kenneth Wain expressed concern over the blanket exemption given to the Malta Community Chest Fund by the government to include non-registered beneficiaries.

This was a break with the past when exemptions were issued for the individual beneficiaries after the fund submitted a list of names.

But last year the MCCF asked for a blanket exemption that would apply to any organisation it chose to benefit from L-Istrina and the government acquiesced to the demand.

“I expressed concern and disapproval in the strongest of manners,” Prof. Wain said.

The issue is not entirely new because the MCCF operates outside the parameters of the law on voluntary organisations that requires them to register with the commissioner if they are to collect money.

Prof. Wain had in the past voiced his concern with this state of affairs, insisting the MCCF, which was run by the President, should lead by example.

Returning briefly to the issue in the 2013 annual report, Prof. Wain called for the downsizing of MCCF and urged it to register as a voluntary organisation.

“[In this way] the President can support, sponsor and extend patronage to all the voluntary sectors instead of competing with them,” he said.

I expressed concern and disapproval in the strongest of manners

The commissioner said there were 19 organisations in 2010 and 132 in 2011 that failed to submit their annual accounts or had incomplete paperwork.

They have been cautioned to fall in line and submit the proper paperwork, failing which the commissioner would institute legal proceedings.

Since 2008, when the commissioner’s office started operating, 914 voluntary organisations had been registered.

A breakdown of organisations by the type of work they conducted showed that the majority, 477, were classified as social and community groups.

The second largest grouping was that of educational and sports organisations, with 396 having registered with the commissioner.

There were 390 culture and heritage organisations that included 80 band clubs. From the 118 environmental groups, 27 specifically targeted animal welfare and rights.

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