The passage of the Voluntary Organisations Act six years ago was an important and long overdue step forward for civil society in this country.
First, it recognised the crucial role that civil society plays in a thriving democracy. For a long time, Maltese civil society had been largely supine, content to leave matters to the politicians and the government. That this situation changed with the Voluntary Organisations Act was a mark of growing maturity in both the governance and society of Malta.
NGOs are the bedrock of civil society, run by volunteers who, for the most part, are there for what they can give, not what they can take.
They attract dedicated members of society with the knowledge and expertise often matching, or even exceeding, those in government.
They make an immense and largely free contribution to a whole range of philanthropic causes.
Moreover, these organisations or associations which are not-for-profit, form networks within society which reflect its very best sentiments as well as underpinning those parts where the government requires such support. The volunteers who man the NGOs derive their satisfaction from helping others and the noble cause of making Malta a better place.
However, although most NGOs operate within the correct parameters established by the law, some have evolved without proper statutes or structures in place and the transparency and accountability to their members which are so important to a well-regulated environment for voluntary help to work successfully.
The Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations is drawing attention in his report for 2013 that almost half the NGOs in Malta are not compliant with the requirement under the law to submit their public accounts for scrutiny.
Many have been outstanding for more than a year after they were due. NGOs are obliged to supply detailed accounts or face being removed from the register of recognised voluntary organisations with all the repercussions for funding, especially EU money, which this might entail. Just 370 of the 680 NGOs enrolled with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations filed their returns for last year’s annual report on time and the figures for non-compliance have increased by more than 10 per cent since 2011.
The commissioner is forbearing about the existing problem, noting in his report that “presenting accounts every year is just not part of the culture of voluntary organisations”. He recognises, however, that this needs to change.
He particularly highlights the need for those NGOs with a turnover of up to €200,000 to be more disciplined in their response. He intends to focus on this category to ensure the correct annual filing of audited accounts.
Those with a turnover over €200,000 do not cause him a problem as they are largely well regulated by long-standing statutes to which they adhere.
The smaller fish, with a turnover below €20,000, are also not such a problem because they are relatively small. However, even they, he maintains, should come to heel.
The commissioner is right. Organisations that fail to submit their annual accounts are not only outside the regulations of the Voluntary Organisations Act but are also, by their poor organisation and discipline, demonstrating that they may not be entirely worthy of meeting the charitable objectives for which they have been established and to which members of the public have donated hard-earned cash.
The commissioner is absolutely correct to fire a shot across their bows. It is to be hoped that his powers to take legal action against repeat offenders will be increased and that the reputation of the voluntary sector in Malta will thereby be maintained and safeguarded.