A White Paper to be launched soon will propose that Church voluntary organisations become accountable.

Church organisations have traditionally been exempted by the government from enrolling with the Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, meaning they are not subject to the same rules of transparency and accountability as NGOs that do.

In an interview with The Sunday Times of Malta, Commissioner Kenneth Wain explains that at present not all voluntary organisations are required to enrol with his office.

When the law setting up the Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations was introduced in 2007, such organisations were suspicious and saw it as “the long arm of the State” trying to interfere. Many organisations operate “under the radar” at the moment and some may even be used for money laundering, Prof. Wain says.

“Amendments to the law will strengthen the powers of the commission and enrolment will now be mandatory for all voluntary organisations. If they are not enrolled under the new law then they will not be allowed to fundraise.”

Prof. Wain also weighs in on the controversial use of inmates to make curtains and costumes that were sold to private clients though a project endorsed by the Marigold Foundation, chaired by the Prime Minister’s wife.

“I need to find out more about this project. What sort of animal is it? Is it a voluntary organisation operating on its own? Is it a part of Marigold? The answers seem to conflict.”