Ombudsman

Question 1

Where was the concept of the ombudsman derived from?

Answer 1

Scandinavia

Question 2

Which was the first territory in the Commonwealth Caribbean to adopt the concept of the Ombudsman?

Answer 2

Guyana

Question 3

What is the concept of the ombudsman?

Answer 3

An office which allows for the application of law as well as morality to flourish in a system of justice designed to complement the adversarial approach.

or

A state official appointed to provide a check on government activity in the interest of the citizen and to oversee the investigation of complaints of improper government activity against the citizen.

Question 4

Give examples of Commonwealth Countries where the ombudsman is established by the constitution.

Answer 4

Guyana: Article 191 (1) of Guyana Constitution and the Ombudsman Act. Cap. q9:04
&
Trinidad and Tobago

Question 5

Give examples of Commonwealth countries where the Ombudsman is established through Acts of parliament.

Answer 5

Jamaica: section 21 (5) of the Jamaican Ombudsman Act
&
Barbados

Question 6

What is the role of the ombudsman?

Answer 6

The role of the ombudsman emerges as a protector of citizens against the inherent abuse of the machinery of such complex powerful administration.

• Investigate complaints and attempt to resolve them, usually through recommendations (binding or not) or mediation
• Identify systemic issues leading to poor service or breach of people’s rights

Question 7

How is the Ombudsman appointed?

Answer 7

By the Head of State after consultation with the Prime Minister and Leader of the oppositions. As such the Ombudsman is a high level official acting as an agent of parliament.

Question 8

Roles of the Ombudsman (2)

Answer 8

-The Ombudsman adjudicates over issues of maladministration and injustice without the costs and trapping of judicial power
-It is more informal than traditional court systems
-It is provides at no cost to the complaint
It is as a government as making the government more transparent of the decision making process. It bridges the bureaucracy of the government with the citizenry.
- Addresses issues that are not adequately handled by the court to stop the abuse of the State

Question 9

The office of the Ombudsman is to:

Answer 9

• Address injustice of citizens caused by the government
• Protect citizens from abuse of the state
• Watchdog for abuses of the state
• A watchdog for the abuses of fundamental rights
• A mediator between the citizens of the state

Question 10

Benefits of the office of the Ombudsman:

Answer 10

• Reduce cost
• Speed
• Investigative expertise
• Objectivity
• Reform
• Decrease maladministration
• Increase accountability

Question 11

The jurisdiction of the Ombudsman is to investigate complaints of injustice suffered by citizens caused by GOVERNMENT or ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS of:

Answer 11

• Prime minister
• Ministers
• Government Officials
• Departments or authority

-Public body
-Bodies funded by public funds
-Bodies appointed by government
-Private bodies having influence over the public such as:
~Unfair or incompetent admin
~Undue delays
~Standardless discretion
~ Bais

Question 12

Different offices of the Ombudsman

Answer 12

• The utilities Ombudsman
• The Political Ombudsman
• Parliamentary Ombudsman
• Ombudsman for contracts

Question 13

What are some complaints received by the Public Utilities Ombudsman?

Answer 13

• Excessive Billing
• Incorrect Billing
• Defective Metres
• Inadequate street lighting
• Estimated billing
• Disconnections

Question 14

Advantages of Ombudsman

Answer 14

-Being representative of public, he/she protects the interest and rights of people
-Resolves the disputes which arise between an authority, firm, public sector, private companies, etc and common people
-To some extent control the corruption and other misbehaviors of officials- employed in public sector or/and private sector
Service is available without any charge