Kenneth Wain has been appointed the first commissioner for voluntary organisations, in accordance with the new law governing NGOs, "giving them the voice they have been wanting".
The law, which has been a long time in the making and was unanimously passed in Parliament, came into force yesterday, with Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina formally presenting the letter of appointment to Prof. Wain'.
Ms Cristina said Prof. Wain's appointment was also unanimously accepted by Parliament's Social Affairs Committee on Monday.
A university lecturer, with an impressive CV, having occupied numerous public positions, Prof. Wain was chosen primarily for personal qualities, including his "integrity, competence, commitment and dedication", Ms Cristina said.
During his three-year appointment, he will be fulfilling several functions, including guiding voluntary organisations, dealing with any complaints, consulting with the appeals board and working with the council, which needs to be set up by law, something that would be done shortly, Ms Cristina said.
NGOs have been wanting and waiting for the appointment of a commissioner for voluntary organisations for years, Ms Cristina said, explaining that his "important" role would be to implement the law.
Prof. Wain would not be working alone as a "super power" and would also be regulated by the same law, she said.
Prof. Wain said he had accepted the challenge whole-heartedly, saying voluntary organisations were an important sector of the country, which would be "poorer socially without them".
Aware that being the first commissioner would make the task harder, he said he would start by setting up the structures necessary to move ahead, promising that work would commence as soon as possible. The commissioner's office is centrally located in Block C, near the Education Ministry, in Floriana.
The law, the White Paper for which dates back to 2005, gave the country's many voluntary organisations legal status, allowed them access to EU funding and would also regulate them, although Ms Cristina pointed out that most were operating within the correct social parameters.