Bishop Delton Fernander, President of the Christian Council. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
NEW Bahamas Christian Council President Delton Fernander said the government has crossed the line by demanding that churches produce their financial records in 14 days to comply with non-profit organisation (NPO) regulations.
Bishop Fernander said other mechanisms already exist that provide oversight of church finances, adding he does not get why the government needs to see the financial records of churches that do not accept money from the state.
He called on the Registrar General’s Department to extend the deadline for compliance with the regulations. If it fails to do so, Bishop Fernander said: “I guess we would have a wonderful prison ministry because…I do believe there are a lot of pastors who are willing to make this stand with me.”
The Registrar General’s Department, however, noted in a press statement The Bahamas is seeking to “enhance regulatory oversight of the non-profit sector” through its calls for financial records of NPOs.
The department said its review of NPOs is important to ensure that it’s in “compliance” with the country’s international obligations, “preventing the potential use of non-profits in The Bahamas as vehicles for international criminal activity, and protecting our financial industry which is vital to our national development”.
The Companies (Non-Profit Organisation) Regulations came into effect in 2014 to guard against money laundering and terrorist financing.
It mandates that registered NPOs keep details of their purpose, objectives and activities, the source of their annual income, the identities of the people who own, control or direct them and annual financial statements or other financial records that show and explain their transactions in and outside The Bahamas.
This week, the Registrar General’s Department listed in newspapers hundreds of NPOs, including churches and organisations like the Bahamas Historical Society and the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation, that must submit such information. Bishop Fernander, however, said the Christian Council is displeased with how the department did this as he believes it created the impression churches are “intentionally breaking the law”.
To this, the Registrar General’s Department noted: “...The notice is not intended to allege that any or all NPOs in The Bahamas are engaged in any form of terrorism financing.”
‘Overkill’
Meanwhile, Bishop Fernander said the church wants to work with the state.
“The church has to work with the state but the church will not allow the state to dictate what the church will do,” he said. “In this case, it’s clearly crossing the line. Usually the state is able to ask for financial records when it takes state funding. If you do not take state funding I don’t see how the state should be asking for financial records.”
Asked if churches have maintained financial records up to at least five years as regulations require, Bishop Fernander said he “guarantees” they have.
“All of us have to do it for our banks,” he said. “If you have an account at any bank and you are any kind of organisation at the end of the year you must produce your financials. So there are other tools. It’s very suspicious. We have a whole regulatory board that investigates finances. Why is the eye so scrutinising the church that you really, really need to know what’s happening in the church? As pastor, if I were to have a special service and collect an offering and you give me an offering and I deposit it and it’s over a certain amount I will get a call. Not only will I get a call but there will be an investigation into where these finances come from. Isn’t this an overkill?”
He also lamented that not all churches are required to comply with the law, suggesting some denominations have been left out.
“That makes it an unequal playing field,” he said. “If it is that some churches are exempted and some are not as a council we must always ask for an equal playing field. We see some injustice there. Then, to be lumped in with other civic organisations as if the church is not something unto the Lord…”
Attorney General Carl Bethel, when contacted yesterday, said churches are not being targeted.
“This is the registrar general exercising the powers of her office and taking action in her discretion,” he said.
“This is not aimed at Christian churches or any particular entity. The next step is to issue a notice directed at friendly societies who are apparently not well regulated and are by virtue of their status able to obtain bank facilities. There has to be oversight of these as well. Going forward, steps will be taken to address institutions that may have an incorporated or parliamentary basis to ensure they too are in the same position. There can be no institution that is free from legitimate oversight of its financial arrangements. We’re not interested in how much it is making but that what it is applied for accords with the proper purposes of the institution.”
As it pushes for a delay in the deadline, Bishop Fernander said the Christian Council will participate in a Q&A session with Mr Bethel.
Failure to comply with the regulations may result in a fine up to $10,000 or a revocation of licenses.
Bishop Fernander did not rule out the possibility of taking legal action against the government, saying churches will be “guided” by legal experts.
Save the Bays, the environmental group, has sought judicial review proceedings in the Supreme Court challenging the Registrar General’s Department’s actions.
Comments
DDK 7 years, 4 months ago
Me thinks the Bishop doth protest too much!
sealice 7 years, 4 months ago
me thinks the bishop actually thinks people care about what he says?????
baldbeardedbahamian 7 years, 4 months ago
Churches that own land, pay out salaries and have bank accounts are running a business not a ministry. Jesus owned nothing and never opened a bank account in his life and yet these people claim to follow his teachings. As I recall Jesus overturned the stalls of those in the temple who dealt with money. After webshop gambling houses, churches are the most profitable business in the Commonwealth. Tax them like every other business and remove their duty free status. We do have some genuine religious leaders professing the faith and living lives of service but they are in the minority.
SP 7 years, 4 months ago
Exactly which orifice do you speak this time? Are you referring to Jesus here while condemning his teachings on capital punishment in another story blog?
Churches' are 100% as guilty as Pillage Loot Plunder and former FNM administrations for the 50-year destruction of our country and decimation of our people!
These churches were totally, absolutely and suspiciously silent while successive administration raped the people and country.
Please carry on PM Dr. Hubert Minnis!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alex_Charles 7 years, 4 months ago
I have to agree with SP. Only time these Churches made noise was against women's rights, anything on homosexuality and that's about it. TAX them to pieces if they don't comply.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 4 months ago
First we have the outrageously entitled PLP fools ........ now we have the outrageously entitled Pharisees and Saducees ................. We need to see what the 4,000 churches are hiding while begging for tithes and offerings every day
SP 7 years, 4 months ago
WHO is KNOWN as facilitators of illegal Haitian migration? A forensic investigation of churches involvement in illegal migration is absolutely warranted!
If they had nothing to hide, they would have nothing to fear.
PLEASE carry on PM Dr. Hubert Minnis!!!!!
TalRussell 7 years, 4 months ago
Comrades! You think the red shirts cabinet will give a pass on a certain "NPO?"
licks2 7 years, 4 months ago
Which one that is? And if ya being funny. . .Nil Per Os. . .is "not by mouth" . . .the last time the reporters keep asking the man the same question when he got pissed and asked them if they can't understand English aye? So now they asked him the same questions over and over again even though he said "no. . .he did not call me or talk to me". . .in English. . .the reporter asked again if DPM Davis talked to him. . .so the doc said "no. . .Nil Per Os". . no" . . .in Latin!! In other words. . ."no. . .not by mouth. . .no"!
TalRussell 7 years, 4 months ago
Comrades! PM Minnis, been Bushed!
Rt. Honourable Prime Minister Minnis - read my "no. . .Nil Per Os". . no" lips.
....///////https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuLWgVOLbG4
Jetflt 7 years, 4 months ago
NEW Bahamas Christian Council President Delton Fernander said the government has crossed the line by demanding that churches produce their financial records in 14 days to comply with non-profit organisation (NPO) regulations.
Fernander.......you claim the government has crossed the line because they've asked for your financial records?? How so?? What makes you different than any other profit or non profit organization in most civilized countries that have to produce financial records. Why shouldn't you have to produce these records? Because you're a church and the house of the Lord. So what?? Newsflash......the jig is up.......if you have nothing to hide, then it shouldn't matter. It's a new day brother Fernander.......it's called accountability! Step up!
Alex_Charles 7 years, 4 months ago
No more driving around in new Merc's or BMW's (or Bentleys) without being able to show where that Church money is going.
Time for some of these for profit churches to pay some tax and suffer like the rest of us. You gone learn today!
sealice 7 years, 4 months ago
a BUNCH OF PASTORS MAKING A STAND WITH YOU??? A bunch of dumbasses that have it handed to them on a silver plate for so long they don't know any other way? A bunch of child molesters? Whichever you "ALL" are when you stand together please all leave together??
TheQuant_In_Hiding 7 years, 4 months ago
.....ML/TF Regulations.....??
Sickened 7 years, 4 months ago
The problem is these non-profits don't want to show their millions in profits each year. This council is so last century and needs to be disbanded!
kairosmatt 7 years, 4 months ago
Churches should publish all their financial records and pay VAT.
On the other hand I do agree with Fernandor when he suggests all pastors should go to jail.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 4 months ago
Will the Lodges (that most MPs, Senators and their friends, families and lovers belong to) be financially audited by the RGD as well??????
PastorTroy 7 years, 4 months ago
SHUT UP AND BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN EXAMPLE! It seems like The Bahamas is not short of the 'Gangsterism' mentality in every sector theses past few years. Many of you DESERVE to be permanently in a prison ministry unless your church is located in international waters, this is quite LEGAL! Churches have been meddling in politics, corruptly swaying sheep to vote for their masters who privately grease their pockets, if they steal money from the church bring them before the courts too! I'm really starting to love the refreshing breeze trickling through our Bahamaland. It's amazing how some of these so call religious leaders, spew rabid colonialist doctrine from the pulpit seven days a week, telling uneducated, poor and vulnerable Bahamian citizens who to do, who to vote for, how to live, binding individuals to a legally binding contract for a lifetime, when that contract fails, the walk away from it now it's in the hands of our courts, someone PAID by taxpayers, however, don't feel the need to comply with the financial governance of our country?? Sir, listen, when you see Mr(s) Paddy (ex BCC) later tonight during yall secret rendezvous, ask him about how 'Pastor' Eddie Loooog use to do it. NOW... IT'S TIME FOR YALL TO GET YALL HOUSE IN ORDER!!! OR ELSE PUCKER UP PADDY. (well, prison may be a blessing in disguise /from 'THE SKIES' after all)
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