REFUSING to be sidelined as the Government moves ahead with plans to introduce new legislation governing non-profit organisations, civil society leaders are again insisting that their voices be included in the process, echoing the chant, “Nothing about us, without us”, as they call for a seat at the table.

At the core of their plea is the belief that the existing Charities Act of 2013 and the 2022 regulations, which seek to keep Jamaica in line with the standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and monitor non-profit organisations’ compliance with anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing measures, are increasingly burdensome and onerous on charity organisations.

Addressing a Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange last week, the non-profit representatives: Nancy Pinchas, executive director of the Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS); Joy Crawford, executive director of Eve for Life Jamaica; Blake Widmer, CEO and founder of Deaf Can Coffee; and Christine Gore, director of the Phillip and Christine Gore Family Foundation, said with a new legislation — the Non-Profit Organisations (NPO) Act — expected to be introduced in October 2026, consultation needs to take place with non-profit groups to ensure effectiveness without compromising their operations.