Reconstitution of national commissions, bodies for 2017

GINA, GUYANA, Wednesday, November 30, 2016

The government will reconstitute the Office of the Ombudsman in the coming year as part of strengthening its operations. This announcement was made by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan during his 2017 budget presentation on Monday in the National Assembly.

The ombudsman’s office is an independent, impartial body providing free services, in investigating complaints that haven’t been solved by an organisation or public body that the complaint is against. An Ombudsman will also investigate complaints of cases that have been handled badly or unfairly, making someone suffer as a result.

The Office has been vacant of an Ombudsman since the passing of retired Justice Winston Moore in September. Earlier this month, the government announced that it will soon appoint an Ombudsman.

The Public Service Appellate Tribunal is also set to for reconstitution in 2017 while the rights commissions will be strengthened and operationalised within the context of the legal framework.

The reconstitution of these national commissions and bodies is part of developing good governance within a framework of transparency, equality, broad based citizen participation, and rule of law.

 

By Tiffny Rhodius