Professor Kenneth Wain has been appointed Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations.

The appointmentment was madeby Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina today as the recently enacted Voluntary Organisations Bill came into force.

The minister said the appointment had received the unanimous backing of the Social Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives.

She said Prof Wain had been nominated in view of his integrity, competence, commitment and dedication.

Prof Wain has held several public posts and is a lecturer at the University. He described his new post as a challenge, saying the social sector was very important for Malta, without which the country would be poorer socially and from the solidarity point of view.

The commissioner will play a central role in the coordination of the voluntary sector, advising voluntary organisations as well as the governemnt itself. His office is near the Ministry of Education in Floriana.