Working group meets over NGOs White Paper

The Non-Governmental Organisation Legislation Working Group has held a preliminary meeting to discuss the White Paper on the Voluntary Organisations Act.

The NGO community should take a good look at the proposed legislation and come up with comments and suggestions, the group has suggested.

"The issues which might be examined closely are, for example, the definition of 'voluntary organisations'. Is it enough to describe a voluntary organisation as one set up for a social purpose and non-profit-making or should such organisations be, by definition independent of government?

"What do the NGOs feel about the appointment and the powers of the Commissioner? Should there be space also for ad hoc, small, non-permanent groups to make public collections of money?

Should board members receive an honorarium? Should public agencies benefit directly from public donations?"