PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ombudsman, Dr. Nilda Arduin, proudly welcomes the Council of CAROA (Caribbean Ombudsman Association) once more to Sint Maarten. Because of its central location, the CAROA Board has chosen Sint Maarten to be the venue for an interim meeting. The meeting will be held at the Bureau Ombudsman from February 26th to February 28th 2014.
The Members attending the meeting are: Ombudsman of Curacao, Mrs. Alba Martijn – President; Ombudsman St. Kitts & Nevis, Mr. Walford Gumbs – Vice President; Members; Ombudsman British Virgin Islands, Mr. Elton Georges and the Ombudsman Cayman Island, Mrs. Nicola Williams Members of the Council.
Dr. Nilda Arduin is a substitute member of the CAROA Council, elected as such in the General Meeting held on Sint Maarten in May 2013. Dr. Arduin is a Director on the Board of the International Ombudsman Institute, representing the Latin- American and Caribbean region.
As a newly established autonomous country in the Caribbean region it is important that Sint Maarten be profiled in the region and beyond. In May last year the Ombudsman of Sint Maarten hosted the 7th biennial CAROA conference, which was deemed a huge success, hence the considerations from the Council to again meet on Sint Maarten. Last year's Conference was attended by Ombudsmen from around the Caribbean, as well as the President of the International Ombudsman Institute, Dame. Beverly Wakem, the International liaison of the Parliamentary Ombudsman of Sweden, the oldest Ombudsman institution worldwide, Marianne von Esch, and the renowned developer of the SYT Investigation method, the Ombudsman of Ontario, Mr. Andre Marin.