MPs engage with Ombudsman, talk clear timelines, enforcement, follow up

GREAT BAY--Members of Parliament engaged with Ombudsman Gwendolien Mossel in Thursday's Central Committee meeting on the Ombudsman’s 2024 Annual Report, underscoring the need for government accountability, timely decision making, and stronger coordination across ministries. Their remarks reflected unanimous support for the Ombudsman’s work, along with concrete questions about policy execution and follow up.

MP Lyndon Lewis praised the Ombudsman’s reappointment and said the findings mirror what people tell him daily. He stressed that when Parliament calls ministers to account, some think it is grandstanding, however the report confirms that public complaints are real.

He said, “The people are hurting in this country.” He identified pressure points in immigration and VROMI, stating, “The backlog within immigration is out of control. People wait months or even years for residence permits or updates.” He criticized what he called stagnation, and contrasted photo opportunities with the lack of tangible progress. He added, “There must be accountability,” and used an everyday analogy to make the point, “If a tree in my yard does not bear fruit, I cut it down. The same should apply in government. If a minister or department cannot deliver results, something has to change.”

He also referred to delays affecting employees in the justice chain, citing public expectations around batch processing and urging timely delivery on commitments. He made it a point to mention that in a full calendar year, the Minister of Justice has not formalized a batch of LB's from start to finish. She only signed off on what was met by her predecessor.

MP Francisco LaCroes expressed confidence in the Ombudsman’s performance and described the office as among the most effective oversight bodies. He sought clarity on the proposed Children’s Ombudsman, asking what the role entails and how it would function within the current legal framework. He noted the reported budget utilization, asked whether the new initiatives would require an increase, and indicated that his assessment of the Ombudsman’s work remains positive.

MP Sjamira Roseburg welcomed the Children’s Ombudsman concept and linked it to international standards on the rights of the child. She asked how frequent changes of government have affected implementation of recommendations and continuity of follow up. She pointed to VROMI’s position as the leading source of complaints since 2019, and asked what structural reforms are recommended to improve service delivery and enforcement.

She referred to the absence of a land issuance policy and warned that continued delay risks undermining public trust. She asked for specific guidance on where Parliament should apply urgency to enforce accountability, and requested clarity on coordination between ministries where enforcement breaks down. She also raised questions about the execution of court verdicts that affect individual rights, the inactivity of KPSM’s online complaints system, the accessibility and transparency of complaints handling, the tools available when ministries fail to act on recommendations, and whether the absence of referrals to the Constitutional Court in 2024 signals improved legislative quality or underuse of constitutional review.

MP Chris Wever thanked the Ombudsman for the clarity of the presentation and focused on trend analysis. He asked whether the concentration of complaints in VROMI has fluctuated since 2019 or remained consistent, and whether other ministries have shown notable increases that would indicate emerging problems. He said that viewing the report through a trend lens would allow Parliament to intervene earlier and treat the data as a management tool for the country.

MP Ardwell Irion commended the Ombudsman’s work and said Parliament must shift from recognition to action. He stated, “I don’t want to just congratulate you, because at the end of this, we will still have the same report next year if we don’t move from talk to action. The Ombudsman is doing her job. Now Parliament must do ours.”

He called for timelines on the land issuance policy consistent with the Didam ruling, for clarity on zoning and enforcement, for reactivation of the KPSM complaints portal, and for regular reporting to Parliament on ministry responsiveness. He pressed for a permanent parliamentary mechanism to track follow up on reports from all oversight bodies. He asked for the status of draft legislation to establish the Children’s Ombudsman, including whether functional descriptions, salary scales, and formation planning are finalized.

He queried overlap among oversight institutions and asked whether the country is receiving measurable value from each, referencing the Ombudsman’s reported volume of complaints handled and budget execution as examples of output.

In a closing comment, MP Roseburg supported calls for structured follow up and said accountability must apply to Parliament as well. She said that the Ombudsman holds government accountable, however Parliament must also act on the information it receives.

The Chair of Parliament MP Sarah Wescot-Williams concluded the exchanges by confirming written responses from the Ombudsman by the following Tuesday. A second session will review those answers and determine which matters should be formally directed to ministers. The Chair endorsed creating a dedicated oversight mechanism in Parliament to monitor implementation of the Ombudsman’s recommendations and to maintain accountability beyond the report stage. (see related story)

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