The Ombudsman of Sint Maarten recently presented the 2023 annual report to Prime Minister Luc Mercelina. The report was previously published in July. In 2023 a total of 367 complaints were handled, with 43 warranting an Ombudsman investigation. Of the 324 general inquiries, the most frequent topics included civil cases, SZV, and filing complaints with KPSM and Immigration and Border Patrol (residence permits). Although not under the Ombudsman’s direct purview, these general inquiries were met with guidance, referrals, or information to direct the public to the proper resources. This reinforces the Ombudsman’s advocacy for a legal aid desk (‘juridisch loket/rechtswinkel’) to provide affordable or free legal advice and assistance, typically funded by the government.
Among the 43 cases investigated, 37 involved government ministries, while 6 involved semi-government entities. The Ombudsman continues to collaborate with the government to resolve public concerns through initiatives such as inter-ministerial meetings, mediations, and site visits, which have yielded positive outcomes. The report highlights notable improvements: The Ministry of TEATT established a policy ensuring transparency in driver’s license examinations, and the Tax Department now includes procedural information on assessments, including deferral options for payment to the Receiver’s Office.
The annual report is available to the public for download at www.ombudsman.sx. It provides a full summary of the Bureau Ombudsman’s 2023 activities.
