Ambassador to CARICOM, Robert ‘Bobby’ Morris, listens attentively as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Maxine McClean, speaks on this year’s National Consultation.
Charities Commission on the cards
Sat, 05/21/2016 - 12:00am
IN an effort to foster philanthropy, a Charities Commission is to be set up.
This is coming from Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Maxine McClean. Pointing out that registered charities were neither monitored on the island, nor required to give reports as to where funds came from or where they were distributed, she said it was critical to make sure that there was a regulatory and supportive environment to address this to encourage more philanthropic efforts.
“A critical part of successful philanthropy is trust. People want to be comfortable that when they give their hard-earned cash that it is given to those genuinely in need. We have seen horror stories on the television in the US of people collecting money for war veterans or dogs and living a life of luxury... And as we encourage Barbadians to be philanthropic, whether it is to give to non-governmental organisations or to public institutions or to create institutions or mechanisms to help, we also want to be in a position to say that the country, supported or led by Government, is also putting in place mechanisms to ensure transparency,” she remarked.
At the time, McClean was speaking to The Barbados Advocate on the upcoming Barbados National Consultation.
In its fourth cycle, the Senator said that the consultation will not only be seeking to bring persons in the Diaspora together to network and build businesses, but also develop practical solutions to issues, which may be hindering the process.
“At the end of the day, if we are talking about business opportunities. We want to walk away from the conference where if only it is a commitment and a plan to start, because we have identified key resources and mechanisms that we can come back in 2018 and say yes, there is a venture capital up and running, these are the businesses and we have had young people who have been able, based on the advice imparted to them, to start their business,” she said.
The theme for this year’s event is ‘One Nation. One People. Celebrating 50 Years of Independence. Shaping Global Citizens’.
The conference runs from July 31 to August 5 and has a packed schedule, which will feature several activities, amongst them a Youth Career Showcase, Bajan Rum Cafe, Prime Minister’s Crop Over Gala and the relaunch of the Barbados Family and Friends programme, to name a few. (JMB)