Foreign Affairs Ministry: all’s regular with overseas development funds

Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg has denied breaching any law when 11 individuals and voluntary organisations benefitted from the Malta overseas development aid budget despite not being enrolled with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations.

Earlier today, Commissioner Kenneth Wain said government was in breach of Article 4 of the Voluntary Organisations Act 2007.

In a statement, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said it had upheld all requests made by registered NGOs, while there where application submitted by Church organization and Maltese individuals who worked for the missions.

"The Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations has no power over these individuals and organisations. With regards to the Church Organisation, the ministry did not break any rule or law when it identified and allocated public funds under the overseas development aid," it said.

The ministry added that this year's budget would finance 28 humanitarian projects in Africa, Asia and South Africa. "The €363,047 projects will be carried out by individuals and organisations working for charity," it added.

Wain's main complaint was however due to the fact that non-enrolled organisations and individuals are not subject to the transparency requirements of the law.

However, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said all beneficiaries present a report every three months over the progress of their projects. The reports include footage, photos, invoices, proof of payment and other details on the progress of the projects.

"The same goes to funds allocated by the Community Chest Fund - funds which the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations had objected to," the Ministry said.

Breakdown of the budget allocated to the non-enrolled organisations:

1.     Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus: €14,000 for the building of a primary school in Nairobi, Kenya.

2.     Daughters of the Sacred Heart: €14,000 for the setting up of a centre for young people in Balanga, Phillippines.

3.     Aldea Infantil Sagrada Familia: €5,400 for the building of a farm in Peru

4.     Segretarjat Missjonijiet Agostinjani: €14,000 to sustain an educative environment for the poor in Mozambique.

5.     Mother Margherita De Brincat Catholic School: €14,000 for the building of a school in the Philippines.

6.     Small States Network for Economic Development (SSNED): €2,500 for training in climate change studies.

7.     Joseph De Piro Middle School for Girls - Pakistan: €14,000 for a school project