PHILIPSBURG:--- Ombudsman Gwendolien Mossel recently had an introductory meeting with the Council of Ministers. The meeting was planned for some time, however, was rescheduled on several occasions due to conflicting schedules.
During the meeting, the Ombudsman, who started her tenure on January 1st, 2019, informed the Council of Ministers on her vision for the coming years, reconfirmed previously established agreements regarding investigations and expressed the concerns that have been identified in the ministries. The Ombudsman also informed the COM about the progress on the ongoing Community Outreach program and highlighted some of the issues that will be presented in the 2018 Year Report in July upcoming.
Vision
The Ombudsman aims to breach the gap between the public and Government by raising the level of service provided by government to a higher standard as well as continue to promote awareness on the role of the Ombudsman. This by using new approaches such as infomercials and short films through social media and focus on the youth. The Ombudsman also intends to introduce an alternative way of resolving conflicts through ‘Ombudsmediation’. Mediation within the mandate of the Ombudsman.
Established agreements
Investigations by the Ombudsman take place at the level of the departments. If a complaint is directed to the Minister the investigation will start at the level of the Minister.
All investigations pertaining to personnel affairs of civil servants will be initiated at the Department of the Ministry responsible for the pertinent complainant/civil servant. This Ministry will be charged and responsible to answer to queries, by the Ombudsman in the investigation. Article 16, paragraph 6, of the National Ordinance Ombudsman, stipulates that the Ombudsman can provide administrative bodies with recommendations to take (corrective) measures. The article further states that the administrative bodies should inform the Ombudsman if and in which way the recommendations will be followed/executed. Once a recommendation is provided, the administrative body, in turn, is obliged to follow up on the recommendation or properly motivate its decision not to do so.
Systemic Investigations
The Ombudsman reminded the Ministers that the Bureau was still awaiting the past due responses to the recommendations issued in the systemic investigations regarding the Rent Tribunal and the procurement process at PJIAE N.V and emphasized that both investigations are essential for the rebuilding process of Sint Maarten.
Ministries
The Ombudsman touched on some of the issues that have been identified in the
Ministries. The following is a non-exhaustive overview of the topics that were discussed.
General Affairs: the ratification of legislation, the importance of a properly
functioning Personnel department; Finance: functioning of the Tax department and the
Cadastre; Education, Culture, Youth and Sports: school subsidies;
VROMI: recent non-responses from the Permits, Domain and Inspection departments to
inquiries from the Ombudsman; Justice: the functioning of the Court of Guardianship (CoG)
and independent agencies such as SJIB (‘Stichting Justitiële Inrichting Bovenwinden’),
Human Rights aspects at the prison, victim support in criminal cases and HR related issues;
TEATT: concerns pertaining to the functioning of the vehicle inspection center in regards to
the capacity to serve the entire community.
While there have been improvements at the Ministries in terms of cooperation with the investigations of the Bureau, the Ombudsman commended the Ministry of VSA for the timely responses to queries and investigations as well as adequate follow-up on recommendations.
The Ombudsman stressed that the institution is a critical friend; an important ally, if recognized and valued as such. The Council of Ministers acknowledged the deficiencies identified and assured that these concerns would be addressed moving forward.
