Tuesday, September 3, 2024
By KEILE CAMPBELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
FINANCIAL expert Gowon Bowe said the economy has sharply reduced charitable donations, leaving non-profits struggling at a time when demand for aid is rising.
“Economic challenges have led to reduced financial contributions to charities,” he said. “We are seeing firsthand how these economic difficulties are affecting the level of community support and involvement.”
The Bahamas Feeding Network, which is gearing up for its 3rd annual golf tournament Fidelity Bank Tee Off for Hunger, is a prime example of the financial strain faced by charities, according to Mr Bowe, whose banking institution will be the fundraiser’s main sponsors.
Despite the increased need for food assistance, the network has experienced a significant drop in donations, according to officials at BFN.
Last year’s tournament raised $50,000, which provided 65,000 meals, but this year, organisers are striving to surpass that amount amidst declining resources.
Mr Bowe highlighted the urgency of addressing the growing gap in support.
“The need for assistance is growing, but the financial resources available to meet that need are decreasing. This situation underscores the urgent requirement for increased support from both individuals and businesses,” he said.
Considering the challenges faced, Mr Bowe called for heightened community and corporate engagement.
“We need to address this gap by enhancing our support for charitable organisations. Without a boost in donations and community engagement, it will be increasingly difficult for these organisations to sustain their operations and continue providing essential services,” Mr Bowe said.
Comments
ExposedU2C says...
It seems Bowe has not learned that decades of unchecked waste, fraud and outright theft by corrupt governments is antithetical to the caring kind of progressive social welfare state he still likes to dream about.
The very flawed policies of corrupt and incompetent governments, whether PLP or FNM led, have been disguised as being progessive but in fact have been anything but that. The progressive wolves in sheeps clothing have even managed o convince themselves that an unsustainably bloated and extremely costly but unproductive public sector workforce is good for our nation. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth.
The ever dwindling portion of our domestic economy attributable to the private sector has been all but sucked completely dry while a relatively small group of the corrupt political elite, and their favoured cronies and financial-backers, have amassed unimaginable wealth by selling-off our nation's most valuable assets to foreign marauders willing to partner with them.
Is Bowe now going to join the line of those who periodically beg with tongue in cheek for their fellow suffering Bahamians rather than addressing the real problems? Our corrupt PM Davis likes to stand at the front of that line with his cup in hand.
Posted 3 September 2024, 1:18 p.m. Suggest removal
Economist says...
Charities have strugled, for both cash and volunters, since the forced departure of the expats in the early 1970's. They have been in crisis mode ever since.
We do not have the same attitude, as the expates, to charitable organizations such as donating of our personal time and money.
Posted 3 September 2024, 1:57 p.m. Suggest removal
bahamianson says...
No chip, shurlock. How the hell can athletes, charlties and junkanoo groups expect money or more money in this plp economy? It is expensive to buy cornbeef. Charities need to tell deadbeat dads and slack girls to srop having 6 children beforw the age of 25, Period! Who is going to absord increased demands for school uniforms, breakfast and lunch ? T3ll them to stop buying gucci, prada, iphones, fancy sushi restairants and pay for their Damn children!!!!
Posted 3 September 2024, 2:49 p.m. Suggest removal
Dawes says...
When VAT was reduced to 10% and put on everything, PLP said it was better for them to be able to focus on those who needed social security rather then all getting breadbasket free. Which is correct i think. Since then they have not done any extra help for Social Security, but plenty more trips.
Posted 4 September 2024, 9:17 a.m. Suggest removal
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