The president of the Bahamas AIDS Foundation has expressed concern about a private company which has publicized itself as being a non-profit organization raising funds for the benefit of HIV/AIDS and cancer sufferers.
Noting that she had never heard of Celebrating Women International, Lady Camille Barnett said it is "unfortunate that there are people that try to misrepresent themselves".
CWI, as Guardian Business reported last week, does not have the non-profit status that it has claimed to date in press releases, on its website and in letters sent to potential "honorees" at an awards ceremony it is planning.
Barnett said: "It is sad because it gives other organizations a bad reputation, so we all get tarnished with the same brush."
A representative of the Cancer Society of The Bahamas, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he has concerns about CWI and the society would meet to discuss the matter.
Following a report by Guardian Business published last Thursday which confirmed that CWI is not a registered non-profit, the organization sent a statement that day which it said should clear up "misconceptions" about it. In support of this, it sent a certificate of incorporation dated the same day - August 7 - and signed by Acting Registrar General Deirdre Clarke-Maycock. The certificate confirmed CWI's status as a limited liability company incorporated under the Companies Act.
Although now providing evidence of CWI's status as a private company as of last Thursday, this continues to conflict with how CWI has represented itself. Up to press time on Friday, CWI continued to describe itself on its website as "a non-profit founded in 2001". Under Bahamian law, such organizations may engage in revenue generating activities, but they are different to private companies as they do not and cannot distribute profit or surplus to shareholders or members. They are legally-mandated to use revenues generated solely in pursuit of their charitable goals.
CWI has specifically called itself an organization which is, in addition to seeking to "honor women", also "supporting the fight against women suffering from HIV/AIDS and breast cancer", with funds raised identified as going to support these causes. The organization has pointed to plans for a ball, a gospel concert and other events.
CWI further describes itself as "a group of women's advocates in The Bahamas, United States and Canada, that supports women's rights". Pressed last week to identify these "advocates" in The Bahamas, Jeffery Smith, executive director of CWI, said: "We have some groups...I am not able to disclose that. There are several groups here in The Bahamas that advocate for womens' rights".
Asked why he would not disclose the names of the groups, Smith added: "We don't get political here. We are celebrating women. We are doing a great cause". Internet research reveals no evidence of any international presence or activity by CWI, whether in support of women, HIV/AIDS and cancer sufferers, or otherwise.
Responding to concerns raised about its status as a non-profit following confirmation from the Registrar General that it was not registered as such, CWI pointed last week to a proclamation from the prime minister as evidence of support of the organization.
The group was able to successfully solicit a proclamation from Prime Minister Perry Christie stating that October is "Women of Excellence Month". Guardian Business has seen the document and understands it has been forwarded to potential honorees attached to letters requesting them to accept an award from the organization.
The proclamation states: "Whereas Celebrating Women International (CWI) was founded in 2013 for the purpose of mobilizing and inspiring women across the globe to honor, recognize and celebrate the value of their contributions to community development...And whereas, during the month of October, CWI will present inaugural Woman of Excellence Awards to 50 outstanding Bahamian women...And whereas the Celebrating Woman of Excellence Awards International Planning Committee 2014 has organized a number of activities and events for the weeks and days leading up to and following the awards presentation luncheon...I, Perry G. Christie, prime minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, do hereby proclaim the month of October 2014 as the 'Women of Excellence Month'.
Government House further confirmed that CWI has booked the governor general's residence on September 30 for the CWI "awards luncheon".
Cabinet Office staff member Christina Brown confirmed to Guardian Business that in order to obtain a proclamation, a group must send a letter on the group's letterhead to the Cabinet Office requesting the same. That request is then considered and a proclamation made.
On Thursday, Guardian Business reported a number of discrepancies on Celebrating Women International's website. These included various dates upon which CWI was said to have been "founded" as a non-profit organization, various spellings of its own name and various spellings of the name of the parent organization from which it is said to have been created.
Smith has stated that the organization is simply seeking to honor women. "We have met all of the requirements for what would be taking place," he told Guardian Business.
The AIDS Foundation president suggested that people should "proceed with caution" when it comes to who they decide to give money to, adding: "The more investigation there is, the better".

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