Ombudsman, Children's Ombudsman visit islands

The National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen and the Dutch Children’s Ombudsman Margrite Kalverboer will visit Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba this month.

Van Zutphen and Kalverboer will first visit Bonaire, on November 17 and 18, then Saba, on November 20 and 21, and finally St. Eustatius on November 23 and 24. Four Ombudsman researchers will be holding consultation hours on all three islands where residents can voice their concerns and file their complaints. Van Zutphen and his staff have been paying regular visits since the islands became Dutch public entities in October 2010.

Kalverboer, who was appointed in April this year, during her first official visit to the Caribbean Netherlands will take the opportunity to speak with children and youngsters to hear from them what goes on in their lives, and which aspects they think require improvement. The youth can also file a complaint during the consultation hours of the Ombudsman.

The visit of the Children’s Ombudsman to the Caribbean Netherlands is part of her Children’s Rights tour; since September 2016, Kalverboer has spoken with hundreds of children and youngsters in the Netherlands.

“The Children’s Ombudsman would also love to hear how the children and youth are doing in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba and what they think should get better,” it was stated in a press release on Tuesday.

A questionnaire has been put online for children ages eight to 18. The results of this questionnaire will be used to determine the priorities for the Children’s Ombudsman in the Caribbean Netherlands in the coming years. Kalverboer will also visit schools and youth organisations on the three islands.

The Daily Herald.