Charities

The introduction of legislation to regulate and protect charitable activities within the Cayman Islands.

This project was referred for the attention of the Law Reform Commission in 2006 pursuant to Private Member’s Motion moved in the Legislative Assembly to amend the 1958 Gambling Law. The focus of the reforms was to introduce legislation to regulate charitable activities within the Cayman Islands.

In contemplation was the formulation of provisions relating to the establishment of a permanent charities register into which the names of all charitable associations should be entered. The intention of the registration process was to facilitate accountability for funds and donations received by charitable organisations and to ensure that our laws were compliant with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations which related to the establishment and implementation of a comprehensive legislative framework to combat money laundering and terrorist financing activities.

The Final Report of the LRC was accepted by Cabinet and instructions issued for the Bill to be forwarded to the Legislative Assembly for enactment. Accordingly, the Bill was published in the Gazette on 21st June, 2010. Debate on the Bill was however deferred by the Government in order to facilitate further consultation having regard to concerns raised by stakeholders. Those consultations have not yet concluded.