Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the government is still searching for a suitable candidate to fill the post of Ombudsman, acknowledging that the position has remained vacant for an extended period.
He made the disclosure in Parliament on Thursday in response to a question from St. Mary’s South MP Kelvin Simon, who asked why the critical oversight role had not yet been filled and whether the government intended to make an appointment soon.
Browne said the administration has been actively reviewing potential candidates but has so far been unable to identify a person with the necessary qualifications, experience, and independence to perform the duties effectively.
“We have been looking for someone suitable for the role,” Browne told lawmakers. “It’s a sensitive position that requires legal and administrative expertise as well as a high level of impartiality.”
He added that the government is now considering advertising the position publicly to attract qualified applicants from a broader pool.
“We may have to go that route to ensure we find the right person,” Browne said, emphasizing that the government remains committed to filling the post.
The Office of the Ombudsman, created under the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda, is responsible for investigating complaints from the public about maladministration or unfair treatment by government departments or officials. The office has been vacant since the last holder’s term expired, raising concerns about the lack of an independent channel for citizens’ grievances.
Simon, in his question, stressed the importance of restoring the office to full functionality, noting that citizens depend on it to hold public agencies accountable.
Browne agreed that the role is vital to ensuring good governance and public trust, but said the appointment must be handled carefully to avoid partisanship.
“It’s not a position we can fill hastily,” he said. “We want to make sure the person appointed has the competence and integrity to command public confidence.”
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Kindly publish the qualifications for the Ombudsman position as well as where interested persons should their applications.
Both Government and Opposition have been complicit in ensuring that the office of the Ombudsman is up and running. Sungu no better than lungu.
The key function of the Ombudsman is to receive, investigate and resolve complaints fairly and confidentially. Their work helps ensure that organizations are acting fairly and in accordance with the law and good practice. Since it’s inception here, the Ombudsman has never been allowed to function as the law subscribes. As a result, to have its presence or not is much the same thing. We will continue to have issues in government and more until we put the necessary provisions and personnel in place and give them teeth and the tools to function fairly and independently. They cannot be just a government rubber stamp. That the office of the Ombudsman is vacant for so long speaks to our commitment to the office.
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