I really had thought common sense had seen the pitfalls of bringing in a charitable organisations bill but I am wrong.

This government tried to bring in legislation a few years ago that would have meant the death of many of our charitable institutions and I wrote an Editorial pleading with them not to do it. THERE WAS NO NEED.

I thought they had taken heed as there was a huge outcry against such a bill.

This country thrives on charity. It is heart warming to see the people of our three islands reach into their pockets and help the needy.

In the 34 years plus I have lived here I can remember NO SUBSTANTIAL ABUSE OF CHARITABLE DONATIONS! If I am wrong then someone, especially the government officials who have come up with another charitable legislation bill, show me all the cases of abuse I have missed. Present to me the staggering sums of monies that have gone into people’s pockets meant for persons in need?

Charities and the persons behind them should be encouraged and not victimized!!

Our Islands charities provide services the public sector would have to fund and provide through its welfare apparatus.

The Non-Profit Organisations Bill is the latest attempt to throttle something that has worked for decades without any legislation and if it comes to fruition IT WILL BE A DISASTER!!!

Even our religious organisations will come under this bill that is headed by a “Registrar of Non-Profit Organisations,” appointed by the governor.

Oh please!

So now the money that should all be going to the needy will be the poorer because non-profits bring in more than $250,000 per year, and which remit 30 percent or more of that income outside of the Cayman Islands, will now have to have their financial statements reviewed by an accountant. This accountant (who government I presume believe will be doing all this work free) will then submit it to the Registrar. The Registrar, of course, together with his/her band of Merry Men/Women will also be executing this work for nothing because it is CHARITY! (I know sarcasm is the lowest form of wit but I’m sure you get my point,)

If any charity does not adhere to all the rules and regulations, and what CHARITY here employs a full time legal secretary, then any person like a director of the charity (who is unpaid) can be held criminally responsible.

All of us who give donations may have to provide details as to what we have given to the charity and/or the charity may have to provide such details.

WHY?

And government can decide as to what non-profit entities may or may not be excluded from this dreadful legislation.

If this bill is passed it will be a death knell (or nail) to many charities and the ones that do survive will be the poorer.

Who is the Mad Hatter or Hatters that went to Wonderland and came back with this nonsense?

It will be no tea party if this bill goes through. I hope the Queen of Hearts will order the perpetrators of it to have their heads cut off.

PLEASE! PLEASE! Let common sense prevail. There has been no need for charitable legislation. Let all the monies go to charity. Leave our charities alone.

And this time may any more attempts of legislating charitable donations go away FOREVER.

I am sure every single pastor and their congregations are. Are you listening/reading all you legislators who want to be re-elected?

Use your brain. Otherwise you will join the Cheshire Cat.

“I’m Mad. Your Mad.”

“How do you know I’m Mad?”

“You must be. Otherwise you wouldn’t have voted for this Mad legislation!”

Apologies to Lewis Carroll.

PS. Since writing this I have just seen the British comedy about Westminster bureaucracy at The Prospect Playhouse called “Yes Minister”. This proposed legislation would fit right into this hilarious play. Unfortunately this proposal by our government is no laughing matter.