International businesses should not be expected to pick up the slack when the Government cuts funding to charitable organisations, according to a leading donor.

A member of The XL Foundation, one of Bermuda's largest charitable donors, said many international business were already heavily investing in the Island and should not be expected to fund everything at a packed public meeting on the administration of charities last night.

The XL Foundation member said that although 90 percent of the company's workforce lived elsewhere in the world The XL Foundation gives two-thirds of its charitable budget to organisations in Bermuda.

He added that the Island needed to prioritise pointing to the $11 million earmarked by Government to be spent on cricket in the next few years.

"I am all for supporting development in sports but when you take it away from the charities, many that provide basic services that make the Government look good, and assume that international business will pick up the slack, I think it is an unfair burden to put on businesses already being charitable.

He added that the Foundation has already earmarked most of the funds and would not be able to help many charities left in the cold this financial year after the Government cut or did not renew grants usually received. And he said that the Island's charities could benefit from streamlining instead of duplicating services because an Island of 65,000 people did not need 400 charities.

The meeting was organised by the Ministry of Social Rehabilitation to allow charities and donors to discuss proposed changes to the Charities Act. Some of the changes include greater accountability, better registration, a definition of what a charitable organisation is and more transparency of charities' goals and mission statement.

Minister of Social Rehabilitation Dale Butler said: " Almost 90 percent of households donate to charity with the average household donating more than $1,200 in a year. This is more than the average household donates in the US and far more than in the UK. Together we can ensure that 'Giving in Partnership' is more than just a slogan — it is our modus operandi and our best avenue in securing a brighter future for all people in Bermuda."