The Ombudsman

Ms. Vanessa Haatrecht (Administrator)

As the All-round Administrator Vanessa Haatrecht, is in charge of the smooth operation of the office, as well as providing administrative support to management and her teammates. She is also often the first point of contact for any persons visiting or calling the Bureau Ombudsman.

Vanessa studied International Business and Languages in the Netherlands, and came to Sint Maarten in 2009. Over the past ten years she has worked in the private sector, where she gained extensive hands-on experience in administration, customer service and office management.

Besides her skills and work-experience, Vanessa brings her drive, honesty, and sense of fairness to her current role at the Bureau Ombudsman. In her free time, she is an avid dancer and likes to read and listen to music.

Ms. Aisha Thomas (Investigator)

Ms. Thomas is an Investigator at the Bureau Ombudsman. This function entails investigating if propriety was observed in dealings between government bodies and the public.

Ms. Thomas was born on the island of Sint Maarten where she grew up and attended the Milton Peters College (HAVO). After completing her secondary education in 2015, she moved to the Netherlands in 2016 to further her studies. Ms. Thomas successfully obtained her Bachelor of Laws from the Hogeschool Leiden in September of 2022 with minors in Practical Property and Contract law, Civil Procedural Law and Health law.

Prior to working at the Ombudsman, Ms. Thomas completed an internship at the department of Legal Affairs and Legislation of the Ministry of General Affairs, Sint Maarten and with the law firm Narecht Advocaten in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Ms. Aishira Cicilia (Legal Advisor)

Aishira is the legal advisor at the Bureau Ombudsman and advises on all (legal) matters.

She is an alumna of Milton Peters College and Leiden University where she studied law.

Prior to the Ombudsman she worked 6 years as Legal advisor for the Legal affairs and Legislative department of Government.

Other areas of interest include (social) justice, community development and constitutional/administrative law

Ms. Gwendolien Mossel

Dynamic and assertive are descriptive for Ms. Gwendolien E. Mossel, affectionately known as Gwennie (Gwen), born in September 1969, in Leiden, the Netherlands.

Upon achieving her HAVO diploma at the Milton Peters College, Sint Maarten, Ms. Mossel furthered her education and pursued studies in law at the Radboud University in Nijmegen in the Netherlands. It is there that she obtained her master’s degree in Notarial Law (‘Notarieel Recht’). During this time, Ms. Mossel also gained invaluable experience during a six (6) year tenure working as a Candidate-Notary at a Notary Office in the Netherlands.

In 2008, Gwendolien Mossel made the decision to return to Sint Maarten. On her return she served alongside then Lieutenant Governor, Franklyn Richards as Legal Advisor in the Cabinet of the Lieutenant Governor, where she had the privilege of advising on matters pertaining to Immigration law.

From 2010 to 2011 she worked as lawyer (jurist) and acting head at the Immigration & Naturalization Department. From 2011 until April 2015 Ms. Mossel held the position of Policy Coordinator at the Immigration & Border Protection Service and acting head of the Admittance & Residence Department.

In May 2015 Ms. Mossel took on a new role as Legal Advisor at the Bureau Ombudsman. In her role as Legal Advisor, Ms. Mossel provided legal advice, both internally and externally on issues relevant to the Ombudsman institution and general issues affecting the community. The position of Legal Advisor meant that Ms. Mossel’s responsibilities included the following:

Observing social and political developments;
Monitoring draft laws and regulations;
including their approval and ratification;
Research and assist with procedures for the Constitutional Court;
Conduct legal research as requested by the Ombudsman, as well as taking the initiative on topics essential for the improvement of the Ombudsman and the Bureau;
Development of simplified procedures to promote rapid solutions to complaints, avoiding lengthy investigations;
Distribute and monitor complaints received; supervise the work of the Complaint Officers; promote best quality service and investigative procedures;
Assist in activities to bring increased awareness to the Ombudsman and the Bureau.

As Legal Advisor, Ms. Mossel participated during May 2015 in an ‘Anti-Corruption, Procurement and Integrity Training’ in Curaçao, conducted by the International Anti-Corruption Academy (I.A.C.A.)

On February 14, 2017 Ms. Mossel was appointed substitute Ombudsman, where she saw her role at the Bureau increase incrementally as Legal Advisor and second in command to the Ombudsman.

In August 2017, she obtained a Certificate as Professional Mediator in Curaçao by Centrum voor Conflicthantereing (CvC).

On November 7, 2018 the Parliament of Sint Maarten unanimously approved the appointment of Ms. Mossel as the second Ombudsman of Sint Maarten, effective January 1, 2019, for a term of seven (7) years. Ms. Mossel was sworn in as Ombudsman of St. Maarten before the President of Parliament, Sarah Wescot-Williams on December 14, 2018.

As Ombudsman and Guardian of the Constitution, Ms. Mossel takes the lead of the Bureau, charged with protecting the rights of the people and ensuring every complaint is investigated in a fair, transparent, and impartial manner.

Ms. Mossel will continue to advance awareness of the role of the Ombudsman and the pivotal stake the Bureau holds in its work of collaborating with government to promote good governance in the interest of all.

Mr Randolf Duggins

Mr Randolf Duggins aka Randy, was born on the island of Sint Eustatius. Mr. Duggins is married and is the father of three children.

After completing his secondary education (HAVO) at the Milton Peters College in 1992, Mr. Duggins travelled to the Netherlands where he successfully obtained a Bachelor’s degree from the Hogeschool Holland (Amsterdam) in 1997 and a Master’s degree in Law from the Radboud University (Nijmegen) in 2001.

Randolf Duggins worked previously for the (Island) Government of St Maarten from 2002 – 2008 where he held different functions, the last being Director of Management Support Services as well as acting Island Secretary. In 2009, Mr. Duggins took a temporary leave from the Public Sector and ventured into the Private Sector on the island of Anguilla where he managed a family owned and operated supermarket business with stores on the islands of St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla and Antigua.

Mr. Duggins has been the Secretary General of the Bureau Ombudsman since June 2015. As Secretary General he is responsible for the overall management of the Bureau. The responsibilities of the Secretary General includes, but are not limited to:

Operational management of the Bureau and supervises the implementation of changes and innovations;
Distributes, coordinates and controls the work, sets priorities and supervises the progress and the quality of the work (goal-, result- and client-oriented);
Selection of new employees, carries out performance and appraisal interviews and makes proposals on legal position matters;
Monitors and controls the costs and (annual) expenditure on the basis of the fixed budget;
Advises on intrinsically special, public-sensitive or complex strategic issues;
Supports the Ombudsman in the work as an independent body to review government action.

Mr. Kelston Brooks (Investigator)

Mr. Brooks works as an Investigator at the Bureau Ombudsman and is tasked with carrying out in depth investigations into the relationship between government and the general public. Mr. Brooks born on 30 March 1986 on the island of Sint Maarten, attended the Milton Peters College and shortly after left for the U.S. where he attained his High School Diploma from New York State Department, in Albany New York.

After completing his secondary education he travelled to the Netherlands and attended the Mondriaan International Business School in the Hague Netherlands where he completed his Associates Degree in Business Administration Level 4 2005 – 2009 in addition to attaining his B TECH Diploma during the period of 2007 – 2009. After graduating in 2009 Mr. Brooks went on to work and study at The Hague University and attained his Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy Management ‘Bestuursrecht’ in the period 2011-2015.

Prior to returning to Sint Maarten Mr. Brooks has also interned and worked within the private and public sector at a number of research institutions in the Netherlands and Sint Maarten such as the Institute of Social Studies, Global Data Collection Company and the Policy Department of the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication in Sint Maarten.

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Ms. Gwendolien E. Mossel, Ombudsman Sint Maarten

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