Hundreds of charities still not registered
(CNS): With just a few months to go before the legal deadline for charities and non-profit organisations to register in accordance with the law, officials have revealed that hundreds of entities that fall under the legislation have not yet registered. As of 16 April, just 63 charities, churches, service clubs, associations and other non-profit groups had registered with the General Registry. But officials estimate there are more than 300 NPOs currently operating in the Cayman Islands.
“Since last July, Registry and the Ministry of Financial Services have hosted numerous workshops, appeared on multiple radio shows, and sent multiple direct mails to a contact list of more than 300 potential NPOs,” said General Registry Head of Compliance Paul Inniss.
“We strongly encourage persons to submit their applications for the NPO register by 15 June, so that Registry has time to process them before the legal registration deadline of 31 July 2018. With so many applications outstanding, we want to make sure that there’s no backlog,” he said.
Any non-profit, including churches to sports clubs, that fail to register could face hefty penalties, Inniss has warned. “For affected entities, registration is mandatory. Failure to register will result in a number of penalties,” he said, adding that the charities could face a $500 penalty fee for noncompliance, plus $10 for every day beyond 1 August 2018 that they fail to apply for registration, up to a maximum fine of $3,000.
They could also face the refusal of government funding in cases where it was previously given. Additional criminal sanctions may apply to entities continuing to operate past the deadline without registering.
Inniss also warned that companies which meet the NPO definition that are currently registered under section 80 of the Companies Law which miss the 31 July legal deadline will be struck off the Companies Register. The assets of those companies would be vested in the Crown, as per the Companies Law.
Organisations that meet the legal definition that register before the deadline will have their $300 application fee waived.
The Non-Profit Organisations Law, 2016 was passed to comply with the Financial Action Task Force recommendations to facilitate the investigation and enforcement of anti-money laundering and terrorism financing. The law also gives the public access to certain information about charities through the establishment of the register.
“The law will not only protect local residents from any potential bad actors but further align Cayman with global regulatory standards, which recognise that serious financial crimes, such as terrorist financing, can occur through NPOs,” Inniss explained.
Registration applications should be filed with General Registry by 15 June to allow for sufficient processing time. NPOs that have not yet registered can learn about their legal requirements and receive face-to-face assistance with completing their registrations.
General Registry will be hosting two-hour registration workshops every Tuesday and Thursday, from 5pm to 7pm, at its offices on the ground floor of the Government Administration Building. The workshops, which will be on an appointment basis, begin on Tuesday, 8 May, and are expected to last until Thursday, 28 June.
Applications can be completed and filed via the Cayman Business Portal (CBP), General Registry’s 24/7 online tool for local businesses. For more information on NPOs, email paul.inniss@gov.ky.
Category: Local News
This is a solution in search of a problem. There has never been a case of a Cayman charity being used for money laundering or terrorist financing which are supposedly the reasons for the law. Now we have a new useless bureaucracy paid for by fees charged on charities. That means less money and more pointless work to burden peoples’ charitable efforts and accomplish nothing. The comments on this article are frankly unbelievable. Is it trolls-only day?
I am involved with three different NPOs. All three have registered in recent months yet none of them appear on the list. It would appear that the list on the website has not been updated since 30 November 2017. So I bet there are many more that have registered over the past six months. I hope the list does get updated regularly.
Don’t see what the big deal is as we all know the largest charity is the work permit scam for expats
Or is it expats arriving in Cayman claiming to be qualified to do almost anything and the the truth is they are not?
Then your immigration officers need firing. Do they even check these expats qualification or work history ?
They’re all on paid leave already! Give them a break!
no they don’t if they sound good an look good the can come to our Island
No, the largest charity is the whole of the civil service with just a few exceptions.
that’s a fact
So what about all these, let me say “Fraternal Orders”…. yes I know the answer, but I just wanted to put it out there to muddy up the waters. Also CIREBA!!!!! I understand this is one too! but registered in Canada…how does this work. Anyways just pissing off a few hundred people or so. I could go on but this will do for now. Your turn let me have it 🙂
I’m quite sure the Lodge and Cartel brothers are putting their applications together as we speak.
Inside information I take it???
LMAO 🙂
charity begins at home , and that’s where it ends up , Their home !
The public register of non-profit organisations will be updated monthly and can be found on the General Registry’s website (www.ciregistry.gov.ky) or the Ministry of Financial Services website (www.caymanfinance.gov.ky) and easily located by utilising the search function on either page to search for the word “non-profit”.
The public register of NPOs will be updated monthly and can be found at http://www.ciregistry.gov.ky and search for the term “non-profit” in the search bar. Similarly the list can also be found on http://www.caymanfinance.gov.ky and easily located using the search function on that page as well.
None of the service clubs have registered (Rotary, Rotaract, Lions, Leos, Kiwanis..) were they given an exemption under the law – or are they just late?
Only those that solicit money from the general public are covered by the law.
And your points is???
So selling raffle tickets and otherwise raising money from the public through events etc is not considered soliciting money from the public? Don’t service clubs solicit money from the public for their community service projects?
1.48pm Are you referring to the Civil Service?.
I used to donate to the Olympic Committee. Now I just spend that money on booze. End recipient of the funds is essentially the same.
I can understand people wanting quarterly reports on a npo, but remember these organizations may have 100 members, but only 2 or 3 members are willing to do the administration. I was a member of a service club for over 25 years, and on 3 different PTA,s and in each case 2 or 3 people did 85% of all the work. I am also very cautious about my donations as some organizations are full of people with bad ideas and spend money on the wrong cause, so I do not donate to them. I must say I feel good donating to football teams, other sporting organization and and school projects. Do I want to see their financials? Hell no, I only want them to have a good time.
The quarterly reports was by the Govt agency responsible. That is a quarterly update of the registered charities/NPO’s. Most quarters there should be very little change, only one or two being added. This would also allow those that do not keep up their compliance to be removed.
Choosing football as a good example of where to make donations to is perhaps not the best example given the Webb affair.
Just another day in the whacky private sector.
Typical private sector modus operandi, cause more issue for the Government and then complain when the civil service responds.
Read the biller/paw report!
This is a giant waste of time and energy that would be better spent on charity.
I stopped donating as some of these charities disburse to whoever is their best friends. I had donated several times to the “100 Women Who Care” until they decided to give lots of money to the Humane Society for dogs. I’m sorry but you can’t tell me that hungry children or poor struggling families are more important than dogs. Never donated again. I donate individually rather than letting others decide for me. You also see these huge expensive bashes for some charities and I just don’t think funds are spent wisely. All should show their financials online.
“Aren’t” not “are” I think you mean.
Totally agree. I also stopped donating to charities and rather help someone directly.
Dear Anon, I guess you miss the whole principle of how the 100 women who care functions ? They did not decide the majority decided on the night and you were obviously the minority in your vote ! its called democracy and sometimes you get what you voted for and some times you don’t. Your mentality is what is wrong.
I hate just what you stated. So in your mind a child means more than a dog. Great. Then go donate to parents who need help raising kids they shouldn’t have had. I’ll keep donating to animal charity’s as that is where I think needs the most help. Please spay and neuter and then maybe we can sort out this FIXABLE problem and then we can all donate to something else.
@11:38am – love your comment! Animals really are the innocent ones when it comes to neglect.
Yes a child’s life means more than a dogs. I love dogs but there is no way their life is more important than a child.
@8.44pm – The Humane Society is a result of people’s poor judgment. If it weren’t for donations and their volunteers those poor animals would be put to sleep.
I volunteered with Kiwanis for a while – until I realized that was a waste of my time. At the time we were raising money for Buy a Kid Breakfast – most of the kids requiring breakfast, their moms were still getting their nails and hair done each week. Doesn’t sound very needy to me! I was in Fosters a while ago and someone was paying with the Government food stamps – that women had a brand new iPhone in her hand and keys to a big a$$ SUV! Seriously?!!!!
Not all, but a lot of people think that if there is a hand out to be had they will take it.
Please ensure that when the deadline arrives the name of those registered is published then we will al know which charities/NPO’s are above board and OK to suport. Quarterly updates would be appreciated.
Number can be cut by at least 100 churches which should be shut-down as they are not NPO’s. All those started by jumped-up Jehovahs with absolutely no Theological training make plently of profit for the so called Pastors. W/permits should have to be applied/paid for and proof of qualification shown just like any other job.
Prediction: They will publish once and once only. In Cayman we have a real problem with consistency.
@8.40am – consistency? What is that?!! No one in Cayman is ever held accountable – that is the real problem. People just do whatever they want.
The list is published already and amended as more NPOs register. Just go to the web-site.
This statement should not be construed to imply that I agree with the process.
Two thumbs down? Really? Why?