Ombudsman Gwendolien Mossel presented her 2024 Year Report to Parliament yesterday, revealing a decline of nearly 100 complaints compared to 2023. She attributed the drop to political instability caused by two parliamentary elections and public hesitation to engage with interim governments.
Mossel said government unresponsiveness and limited resources continued to obstruct complaint handling. The Ministry of VROMI once again received the most complaints, though slight improvements were noted following recent meetings and the appointment of a new complaint liaison.
She reiterated her call for a clear policy on domain land allocation, urging compliance with the DIDAM Arrest and asking Parliament to act swiftly.
The Ministry of Justice was criticized for delays in residence permit processing and the lack of an operational complaint system within the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM). Mossel also cited a case where an inmate waited over two years for a court-ordered medical transfer, calling the delay a violation of fundamental rights.
Legal Advisor Aishira Cicilia reported that the Ombudsman handled 270 complaints in 2024, most involving SZV, KPSM, GEBE, and the Tax Department. Of the 42 full investigations, VROMI and Justice led with nine each. The office issued 96 recommendations aimed at improving efficiency and public trust.
Mossel emphasized that the Ombudsman’s work remains vital to upholding democracy and good governance.