Philipsburg, The Ombudsman, Dr. Nilda Arduin, has extended invitations to all Members of Parliament and the Council of Ministers for a session geared towards interaction with the High Councils of State. The session is scheduled to take place at Sonesta Great Bay Resort, Casino & Spa on Tuesday, June 28 2016, from 2-5 PM.
Past Five Years Experience
Considering the experience of the past five years since Sint Maarten became a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dr. Arduin thought it fitting to make use of the opportunity to have the role of the Ombudsman in a democracy re-emphasized and discussed with all High Councils of State, the judiciary and other key stakeholders.
Speaker Mr. Reinier van Zutphen
The speaker for the session will be the National Ombudsman of the Netherlands, Mr. Reinier van Zutphen. Mr. van Zutphen was appointed as the National Ombudsman of the Netherlands on April 1, 2015. Prior to his appointment as Ombudsman, he was the President of the Administrative Court for Trade & Industry. He also held various positions in the judiciary in the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the former Netherlands Antilles. Mr. van Zutphen will speak on the topic: “The role of the Ombudsman in a democracy and its relation to other bodies of the state”.
Office-Bearer
As the office-bearer of an institution that was established in 1982, Mr. van Zutphen will be able to provide valuable insights to our elected officials and representatives with regard to the development and mechanisms of the Ombudsman institution. The Ministers and Members of Parliament are encouraged to make use of the opportunity to ask questions regarding the role they play in promoting good governance and the checks and balances of our democracy.
The Ombudsman listens, investigates, and recommends
Government to act on the concerns of the people
The Ombudsman is the Voice and Protector of the People
