THE chairman of United Way of Jamaica believes that a comprehensive study needs to be done on the contribution that volunteerism has made to the economy.

"It is an area that I think has been neglected, it is an important area," argued Noel DaCosta at yesterday's weekly Monday Exchange meeting of Observer reporters and editors at the newspaper's Beechwood Avenue head office in Kingston.

"Right now we don't know how much the voluntary sector contributes to the economy, but we feel it is substantial," DaCosta added.

United Way of Jamaica, which will be celebrating 25 years next year, has been heavily supported by donations from well-meaning Jamaicans who have helped the organisation to raise 85 per cent so far of its targeted $80 million this year.

That money is used to finance social programmes and to support other charity groups.

"None of it is measured or taken stock of... so we think it is important that there is some study done as to the impact and the effect of the voluntary sector," DaCosta reiterated, while noting that his group will be prepared to help with the study in any way, except financially.

DaCosta also said that United Way and the Council of Voluntary Social Services -- the body that represents over 100 voluntary associations in the country -- are working at getting legislation that will register all charities. The legislation is geared at increasing the effectiveness of charity groups and increasing public confidence and trust.

"There are a lot of charities that are not registered and we are not sure where the funds go that they collect and whether it is bonafide and so on," DaCosta said, while pointing out that he has heard of charity groups that have taken advantage of the generosity of Jamaicans.

"When we started our work on the charity regulations project, we heard of even more, so it is an area where we would encourage the Government to move with pace," he said. "We want certain things made into law and we want a charity commission set up, similar to what they have in other countries."

DaCosta said that submissions have already been made to the finance and labour ministers who have been very receptive.

"The ball really now is in their court because we have put forth a document which could form the basis for a Cabinet submission," he said.

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