Dear Editor,
A rare jewel is hard to find and so is someone who is committed to serve. Whichever one is discovered, words are insufficient to express the overwhelming love and appreciation to have stumbled upon this priceless souvenir. Nonetheless, this gem was unearthed in the flesh, and from the onset, one can tell that she has a passion for helping people and, is exempted from the realm of the ordinary.
Without a doubt, her impeccable performance articulated how much she cherished the opportunity to assist her community. To be offered the privilege to serve was a mark of distinction, and as such, she never abdicated her responsibility, nor allowed her ego to guide her function or institution. Instead, her dazzling personality captured the nation, as her occupation became her constant fascination.
It was not easy to build an institution from scratch, but eight years of hard work and commitment have paid off, and is now packaged and hand-delivered to a population that once lacked the proper representation – eight years of due diligence, wrapped with a new awareness of how to be responsible and accountable. This servant of the people believes in being clear and direct, and the following paragraphs would outline these beliefs.
Her messages to the nation were quite compelling; not powered by outside influence, but from well-researched sources, personal experiences and a supportive staff. Government, civil servants and citizens were reminded of their individual responsibilities and accountabilities in practicing proper conduct. Government and the civil core were made to understand that the institution in which they operate is not there for itself.
If proper conduct is not followed, the structure becomes flawed, regardless of who is in government. She further emphasized that laws are about the people, and if the regulations are not accessible, then they have no value or benefit to the people. The shared yearly reports are a gesture to encourage and empower citizens to play their role, by educating themselves about the function of the bureau and to be responsible and accountable.
This gentle giant’s term was about to end shortly after the passing of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Instead of walking away in a time of crisis, this responsible captain stood at the wheel and groomed her successor for this type of disaster. When the reconstruction aid was not forthcoming, she dispatched a letter to the Ombudsman in Holland and to the Minister of General Affairs on St. Maarten regarding the sufferings of the people.
Even in the midst of the recovery stage, the brilliant initiative of the School Ombudsman Project was born and showcased on December 5 at USM. Students of St. Maarten Academy; Milton Peters College; MAC CSE and St. Dominic High displayed the function of Bureau Ombudsman, to a packed and enthusiastic crowd. The program got the students involved and they brought the awareness to their peers and audience.
By exposing the youth, they get to understand the workings of the Ombudsman, which extended into the learning and understanding of the different ministries. This initiative can serve as a model for each ministry, parliament and all government entities. When students understand how government functions, they are in a better position to choose their career path from young.
Now that her tenure has come to an end, besides having the quality to serve, she exhibited maturity to let go graciously, and still remain available to her inheritor. Even though she is open to assist where necessary and welcomes the inquiries, this humble servant will allow her successor to find her bearing to introduce new ideas, fresh approaches and bring them to another level. This kind of leadership is a classic example of unequalled integrity and dignity.
To the lady of the moment our honourable and immediate past Ombudsman Dr. Nilda Lynch-Arduin, take a bow, thou humble servant, for exhibiting such an exceptional performance! Thank you for teaching the community how to uphold the principles of good governance. As you take some time to frolic, may you be guided by the force that keeps the universe in place!
Joslyn Morton
