National Ombudsman holds consultations on Saba, Statia

Investigators of the office of the National Ombudsman will be visiting the Caribbean Netherlands late March until early April. They will be holding consultations on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius to investigate complaints about Government.

One of the most recent investigations by the National Ombudsman concerned the Public Entity Statia. According to National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen, the public entity needs to improve communication with residents.

The Ombudsman dealt with four complaints, which were all declared founded because the Public Entity did not respond to complaints. The duration of handling the complaint was, therefore, considered much too long.

The Ombudsman also sent a letter to the Public Entity Bonaire in which he expressed his concerns. During a recent visit, Van Zutphen discussed these matters with Bonaire’s Government.

“Good communication is essential for mutual understanding and respect between residents and Government,” he said.

The National Ombudsman and his team are handling problems of residents with the Tax Office, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Police, the Public Entities, and Dutch Government Service Caribbean Netherlands RCN.

Residents can submit their complaints via the Ombudsman’s website and by telephone, but also by a visit in person.

The National Ombudsman will be visiting Statia on Monday, March 27. Representatives of the Ombudsman may be consulted at Gertrude Judson Bicentennial Public Library from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.

The Ombudsman will be holding office on Saba at RS Accounting, near RBC Royal Bank in Windwardside on Thursday, March 30, 2:00pm-5:00pm.

Twice a year investigators of the National Ombudsman are holding consultation sessions on Bonaire, Statia and Saba. The dates and locations of these visits are announced by newspaper ads, radio and TV commercials, and on Facebook.

The Daily Herald.