ORANJESTAD, ARUBA:--- The Ombudsman of Aruba, Ms. Jurima Bryson LL.M. has published the report “Het Luisterend Oog, In kader brengen van instellingen” (Dutch for “The Listening Eye”) on March 9^th, 2026. In this report, 564 institutions on Aruba that fall under the National Ombudsman Ordinance have been identified.

The four utility companies are NV Elmar, Setar N.V., Web Aruba N.V. and Serlimar Sui Generis. These were also part of the group that was identified. Because these companies offer essential services and citizens depend on these essential services, it is very important that these companies provide careful and transparent service, including complaint handling.

This report, “Het Luisterend Oog,” concerns an investigation conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman in the third quarter of 2025. The main objective of the investigation was to identify institutions that fall under the National Ombudsman Ordinance.

The research shows that all utility companies offer general contact options and customer service, but that a clearly defined and publicly known complaints procedure is missing.

For citizens, it is essential that it is clear how a complaint can be submitted, how it is handled, and within what time frame a response can be expected. Such a procedure contributes to trust, legal certainty, and quality of service.

The Ombudsman has sent a letter about this to all utility companies and the ministers involved, and calls upon them to introduce and publish a clear and accessible complaints procedure in the short term.

“A good complaints procedure is not a formality, but an essential part of reliable service to citizens”, said the Ombudsman.

In addition to the general recommendations in the report, the Ombudsman advised the utility companies to take a number of steps in the short term:

• Define and publish a clear and accessible complaints procedure (for example, via the website or customer portal);
• Outline the steps, such as deadlines, registration, responsibilities and feedback;
• Choose one clear contact person or place for customers.
• Describe what customers can do if they are not satisfied with how their complaint has been handled and within the processing time frame.
• If applicable, define and publish the general terms and conditions, keep them up to date and easy to find.
• Ensure internal awareness and monitoring of complaints, following the recommendations in the report.

Also, there should be greater clarity about how the organizations operate and which laws they follow, so people can better understand how they function and who is responsible.

Also, there should be more clarity about the structure of organizations and which laws are applicable, so people can better understand how they function and who is responsible. These are concerns which the Ombudsman already raised in her letter of concern sent to Prime Minister Mike Eman in February of 2026.

The full report “The Listening Eye” (“Het Luisterend Oog – in kader brengen van instellingen”) and the letter of concern are available on the Ombudsman’s website, www.ombudsman.aw/en/publications/ .

The Ombudsman will continue to monitor and do follow-ups on these recommendations.

Stay informed about the latest developments

By Terence Jandroep, CRA, CQA, CLA Certified Risk Auditor & Forensic Integrity Specialist

In the specialized field of Forensic Integrity Auditing (FIA) and preemptive risk analysis, we often identify vulnerabilities within systems that are not merely technical, but behavioral. One of the most corrosive structural risks to fiscal integrity emerged in the late 1980s and has since solidified into a systemic crisis: the transition of government tax inspectors into private independent consultancy.

To protect the sanctity of the public treasury and the objectivity of the audit process, we must address this "revolving door" not as a career move, but as a fundamental breach of state security.

The Genesis of Insider Advantage (Post-1980s)
Since the late 1980s, the complexity of global tax codes and the digitalization of audit trails created a premium on "inside knowledge." During this era, a pattern emerged where high-level officials began migrating to the private sector, selling the very blueprints they helped draft.

As a Certified Risk Auditor, I view this through the lens of Information Asymmetry. When a former inspector enters the private sector, they are not just providing legal advice; they are providing a map of the government's internal "blind spots."

A Case of Government Spionage
The term "consultancy" often acts as a polite veneer for what is effectively Government espionage. When a former official leverages their tenure for private gain, they engage in several high-risk activities:

• Systemic Mapping: They possess intimate knowledge of the "Risk Selection" algorithms used by tax authorities. This allows clients to structure transactions that intentionally bypass the triggers for a formal audit.
• Protocol Extraction: They carry confidential administrative benchmarks and internal "settlement ranges" that were never intended for public or commercial dissemination.
• The "Shadow" Influence: By maintaining social and professional ties with active inspectors, these consultants can exert psychological pressure or gain unauthorized intelligence on the progress of ongoing fiscal litigation.

 The Risk to Audit Integrity
From a forensic perspective, the presence of a former insider on the "defense" side of a tax dispute compromises the Forensic Integrity Audit (FIA).

1. Technical Manipulation: They understand the specific software vulnerabilities and data-entry shortcuts used by government staff, allowing them to "sanitize" records in a way that an external auditor might miss.
2. Erosion of Public Trust: When the public perceives that a tax inspector is simply "auditioning" for a lucrative private role while still on the state payroll, the moral authority of the tax office evaporates.
3. Conflict of Interest: There is an inherent risk that active inspectors may be less rigorous when auditing a firm represented by their former supervisor or colleague, fearing future professional repercussions or hoping for a similar "exit" path.

The Professional Mandate: A Call for a Permanent Ban

In the interest of ISO 9001 standards and the principles of preemptive risk containment, the solution is clear. We must implement a mandatory ban or, at minimum, a stringent ten-year "cooling-off" period for former inspectors.

The fiscal frontier cannot be defended if the guards are allowed to sell the keys to the gate. To restore integrity to our regional financial systems from Aruba to Sint Maarten we must recognize that the tools of the state belong to the public, not to the highest bidder in the private consultancy market. It is time to treat the "revolving door" as the National security threat it truly is.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Student Support Services Division (SSSD) recently hosted a ten-member delegation of school safety professionals from Antigua & Barbuda, Anguilla, and St. Lucia. During their week-long visit, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Honorable Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport, Ms. Melissa Gumbs, as well as the Acting Secretary General, Mrs. Shermina Powell-Richardson.

The purpose of the visit was to gain insights into St. Maarten’s school safety program, coordinated by the Student Support Services Division. During the week, the delegates observed a medical emergency drill at the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School and visited the 2024 Safety & Emergency Team (SET) of the Year: Sister Borgia School. These visits were met with great enthusiasm, and the delegation was impressed with the high school safety standards.

Particular commendation was given for the quality of the drill, the response of the school, and the meaningful involvement of the students (schools safety ambassadors) in the drill. The delegation also praised the chairperson of the Sister Borgia School SET for her professionalism and clarity in explaining the structure and functioning of the SET as well as the overall organization of school safety at the campus.

Throughout the week, the delegation participated in training sessions led by Mrs. Olga Mussington-Service, Manager of the Student Support Services Division and School Safety Focal Point for St. Maarten. “Although the delegates were here to get insight into our school safety practices, including how we address mental health and psychosocial support, they also shared their experiences. The exchange was mutually enriching and highly constructive, Mussington-Service said.

On the final day of the visit, there was a best practice exchange, during which all four countries delivered presentations on key school safety issues in their respective countries. Topics included violence in and around schools, school safety policies, bullying, and strategies to mitigate school-related violence. These areas were intentionally selected by Mrs. Mussington-Service as they represent shared regional challenges that benefit from coordinated approaches and collaboration.

The delegates described the training week as both impactful and energizing, and some even expressed that they are leaving inspired because of the passion and expertise of the school safety team at SSSD.

St. Maarten was the Chair of the Caribbean Safe School Initiative from 2022 to 2025. Mrs. Mussington-Service was the Technical Chair and led regional coordination efforts during that period. In this capacity, she also facilitated a formal handover exchange with the current CSSI Technical Chair, Saint Lucia.

During the CSSI Ministerial Forum in May 2025, where the CSSI chairmanship was officially transferred from the Hon Minister of Education, Culture Youth and Sport, Ms. Melissa Gumbs to the Honorable Minster of Education of St. Lucia, St. Maarten was asked to participate in a best practice showcase. This showcase, facilitated by Mrs. Mussington-Service, was the catalyst for Antigua & Barbuda contacting St. Maarten and requesting the working visit. They were later joined by Anguilla and St. Lucia.

The visit underscores one of the core objectives of the Caribbean Safe School Initiative, which is to bring Caribbean countries together to share ideas, best practices and experiences, and support each other in the best interest of local Caribbean communities and the wider region.

French Quarter, St. Martin:---  A new book by Roland Richardson launches at Amuseum Naturalis in French Quarter this Saturday. The book is titled The Last Frontier: Sir Roland Richardson’s French Quarter. It features artwork of people and places in French Quarter, and Richardson’s memories of the time he lived there. It is bilingual in English and French. The public is invited to the free, launch event. It will be held at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House in French Quarter from 9 am to noon this Saturday, March 28th. The book was produced by the Les Fruits de Mer association.

“We are so excited to share this with St. Martin,” said Amuseum co-founder Mark Yokoyama, who developed the book with Richardson. “It is a book about art, about French Quarter, and about St. Martin’s past.”

The Last Frontier features 26 paintings and etchings by Roland Richardson. Subjects include an etching of the house where Richardson lived in the French Quarter, and The Old House, the historic building where Amuseum Naturalis is located. The text, taken from oral history interviews with Richardson, reveals a French Quarter where traditions still survived on a rapidly changing island. He also shares insights into his artistic process.

Roland Richardson remembers his time in the French Quarter fondly, “

felt that was part of my real privilege, that opportunity to sleep with my doors open. I didn't have any worries, and I felt totally at home, but I felt really privileged to have, out of every door or window where I looked, the natural landscape. I did a huge, huge body of work during those years.”

Amuseum Naturalis is located at The Old House in the French Quarter. It is always free to visit, and all displays are outdoors. Guests are welcome to make a self-guided visit any day of the week during daylight hours. 

This book was produced with the support of the Fonds pour le développement de la vie associative (FDVA). The project was a collaboration between the Les Fruits de Mer association and the Roland Richardson Heritage Association. The funding includes providing copies of the book to all schools on the French side of the island. Teachers and youth group leaders interested in copies are encouraged to contact Les Fruits de Mer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Companies, organizations or individuals interested in sponsoring copies for schools are also encouraged to contact the association.