Ombudsman Gwendolien Mossel (centre) speaking to Justice Ministry Secretary-General Russell Ursula (left) with legal advisor Aishira Cicilia (right) looking on.
PHILIPSBURG--Ombudsman Gwendolien Mossel recently held a meeting with Justice Ministry Secretary-General Russell Ursula to discuss several concerns she has with the Justice Ministry.
Mossel expressed serious concerns about the lack of responses to requests from the public and the overall lack of communication with the Office of the Ombudsman from the Ministry of Justice.
At the meeting, she emphasised what she considers the main bottlenecks with the Ministry of Justice. These included the lack of information on human resource (HR) policies, ministerial procedures, legal bases (in Dutch, “functieboeken”), the functioning of the Court of Guardianship, and the lack of a tracking system for letters received by the Ministry.
Government is required to cooperate with investigations of the Ombudsman and not doing so is in violation of the National Ordinance of the Ombudsman, said Mossell, adding that “behind every complaint is a person entitled to proper service from the government.”
In the meeting, Ursula acknowledged that better communication is needed from the ministry. He further expounded on the challenges the ministry is facing, particularly its budgetary constraints.
He also highlighted the ministry’s priorities that are in the final stages of completion, which include the restructuring of HR, the legislation pertaining to the legal position of the justice system, and the anti-money-laundering legislation. He also spoke about the stability in decision-making which is needed to achieve these objectives.
Ursula expressed his intention to set up a tracking system for documentation and to enhance communication with the Ombudsman’s Office.
Mossel concluded the meeting by urging Ursula to address pending cases.
Mossel said she is hopeful that Justice Minister Egbert Doran, who “expressed his affinity with the [Justice – Ed.] Ministry and requested past letters of concern during the Ombudsman’s recent presentation of the 2018 year report in Parliament,” will address the ministry’s ongoing challenges.
