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press releases
October 19, 2011
To All Media: Ombudsman establishes Public Access Committee
HAMILTON, BERMUDA: Arlene Brock, Ombudsman for Bermuda, is establishing a Public Access Committee to give input to her office on issues dealing with public outreach such as diversity, social media, public needs and complainant feedback.
Ms. Brock said: “last year, we had a record number of complainants, most of whom were quite assertive about their grievances. We want to make sure that people who are less assertive also feel comfortable to use our services”.
The Ombudsman’s 5th Annual Report pointed out research that indicated that differences in language, culture and education can affect the confidence and fluency with which people pursue their rights. Ms. Brock noted “Bermuda is becoming increasingly diverse. Many people come from countries where it can be intimidating to deal with people in authority. We have recommended that government departments be sensitive to this. It is therefore important that our own office be proactive as well.”
The nine volunteers of the Public Access Committee must represent a diverse cross-section of the public. Each will serve for one or two year terms and meet quarterly (beginning in January 2012). Ms. Brock added: “The Ombudsman world is constantly evolving. With six years under our belt, we are reflecting on how to keep up with international standards in order to be more effective. A structured way for public input will help to ensure that we are accessible to all.”
Interested persons of all ages, ethnicity, cultures, occupations and backgrounds are invited to express their interest by Monday, November 14th to Ms. Suhartono at info@ombudsman.bm; tel: 26-6541; fax: 296-7734.
Notes for Editors
The Ombudsman for Bermuda is an independent Officer of the Constitution who investigates complaints and makes recommendations on the delivery of public services.
The Public Access Committee cannot be involved in or privy to complaint investigations.
Nine volunteers will be selected by an ad hoc committee comprised of representatives from the Auditor General’s Office, Human Rights Commission and Ombudsman Office.
Research referred to: Tribunals for Diverse Users: National Centre for Social Research, 2006. http://www.dca.gov.uk/research/2006/01_2006.htm
More information, contact Arlene Brock 296-6541
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July 21, 2011
To All Media: Ombudsman Recommends Review of Education for Special Needs Students
HAMILTON, BERMUDA: the Interim Report of the Ombudsman for Bermuda for the period August 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010 (tabled June 27, 2011) is now available on the website: www.ombudsman.bm.
The Report details the first decision in the Supreme Court of Bermuda that considered the Ombudsman’s authority. Ms. Brock notes that the Court’s confirmation that she may recommend that a department reverse its decision “has been applauded globally by Ombudsman scholars”.
Complaint summaries in the Report include a complaint of inadequate education for a special needs student. The Ombudsman found that the Minister did not have full information in making the initial decision about the extent of support to give to that student. She recommended that additional data be collected and analyzed. Ms. Brock also recommended that the Department of Internal Audit conduct a review of current education services for “all categories of special needs students”. The Report set out her reasons and conclusion that: “The country should have an interest in ensuring that all such children receive the training and confidence that will enable them to become functioning, independent, contributing adults. We pay now or we pay later.”
This is the first time that the Ombudsman has recommended a review by the Department of Internal Audit, thus demonstrating her confidence in the work and objectivity of that Department. Ms. Brock commends the Ministry of Education “for moving swiftly to implement the recommendations and rectify the complaint as soon as it had gathered adequate data”.
The Report also sets out United Nations’ standards for the independence of (and government support for) the role of the Ombudsman and other national human rights institutions.
Notes for Editors
The Ombudsman’s reporting year was previously August 1 through July 31. Annual Reports must be tabled within six months of the year end. The reporting year is now changed to the calendar year (to ease statistical analysis). Future Annual Reports will be tabled in Parliament by the end of June of each year.
For more information, contact Arlene Brock, Ombudsman for Bermuda at 296-6541
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April 13, 2010
To all Media: Bermuda Ombudsman conducts investigation training in British Virgin Islands
HAMILTON, BERMUDA: Ombudsman for Bermuda, Arlene Brock, was asked by the Ombudsman for Ontario and the Complaints Commissioner of the British Virgin Island to co-conduct Ontario’s “Sharpening Your Teeth” investigations course on March 22-25.
A broad range of civil servants participated in the four-day course, including the Financial Investigation Agency, Immigration, Labour, Internal Audit Unit and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force.
BVI Complaints Commissioner, Elton Georges, said that “Ms. Brock shared generously of the techniques and approaches that helped her office to be very effective in a small population comparable to the BVI's where investigators have to manage their own multiplex relationships and roles."
Ms. Brock was interviewed on BVI radio and noted that: “the course is not only important to help civil servants sharpen their skills in planning and conducting thorough investigations, but also helps them to understand the Ombudsman’s investigations of them”.
Ms. Brock will similarly offer the course to civil servants in Bermuda as part of the commemoration of the 5th Anniversary of the Ombudsman institution here.
Editor’s background notes:
Like Bermuda, the Complaints Commissioner in the British Virgin Islands is a constitutional post. Mr. Elton Georges, CMG, OBE, the former Deputy Governor of the British Virgin Islands, was appointed as the first Complaints Commissioner in the British Virgin Islands in February 2009.
The Assistant Complaints Commissioner, Mrs. Monique Hodge-Bell, came to Bermuda for a week-long of training at the Office of the Ombudsman for Bermuda in November 2009.
“Sharpening Your Teeth” has been offered by the Ombudsman for Ontario not only in Canada but also in the UK, Trinidad & Tobago, Cayman, South Africa, Thailand and many other places.
For more information, contact Arlene Brock, Ombudsman for Bermuda at 296-6541
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March 9, 2010
To all Media: Ombudsman Forwards Electronic Slave Registers to the Bermuda College, Bermuda National Museum and National Trust
Hamilton, Bermuda: Arlene Brock, Ombudsman for Bermuda, today forwarded to the Bermuda College, Bermuda National Museum and National Trust two extensive databases of the 1821 and 1834 Slave Registers. The original hand-written Registers (widely acclaimed as amongst the most treasured gems in the Archives) were created to facilitate compensation for slave-owners when the slaves would be emancipated.
The databases were developed in searchable excel format by Dr. Virginia Bernhard of the University of St. Thomas in Houston. They set out names of owners, slaves and their work and ages. Dr. Bernhard gifted the first part to the Archives more than a decade ago (toward the end of the tenure of then Director J. Adams) with the intention that they be made available for public research. Ms. Brock noted: “the electronic Slave Registers may well open up a new era of family history and other research in Bermuda”.
During the investigation into Allegations of Barriers to Access to the Archives last year, two researchers complained that there is no public access to the databases (which have been used by the Archives to answer genealogical and academic inquiries). The Archives is in the process of developing its own Slave Register database.
In the interim, the Ombudsman’s Report recommended that a computer terminal be installed for user access to these donated databases as well as CDs of the Hallett Civil Records and the Archives’ own negatives database. The response was that “the [Archives Advisory] Council did not promote the public use of in-house working electronic lists”.
In fact, the electronic Slave Registers were not produced by the Archives. Dr. Bernhard stated: “The Slave Registers are such a treasure. I have no objection to making the databases public – this is my way of saying thank-you to Bermuda”. However, she stressed: “these are academic working lists. They are not perfect – there are some gaps and spelling errors”. Ms. Brock noted: “although imperfect, the electronic Slave Registers will provide extremely useful information in an accessible format”.
She added: “I refrained from releasing them before now in order to give the Archives the opportunity to do so. However, nine months after tabling my Report, I cannot in good conscience hold on to these important research tools any longer.”
Ms. Brock received the response to her Report from the Permanent Secretary responsible for the Archives (the Secretary to the Cabinet) on 24th February and is encouraged by some of the actions to be taken. She will table her response in Parliament in April.
Editor’s background notes:
The Ombudsman for Bermuda is an independent Officer of the Constitution. She was appointed in 2005 by the Governor after consultation with the Premier (who first consulted the Opposition Leader).
Section 5(2)(b) of the Ombudsman Act 2004 provides for the Ombudsman to conduct investigations on her “own motion, notwithstanding that no complaint has been made to her, where she is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to carry out an investigation in the public interest”.
The Ombudsman tabled the Report of her own motion systemic investigation into Allegations of Barriers to Access to the Archives in June 2009. The response was submitted on 19th February 2010 (in advance of the final extended end of March deadline). Ms. Brock is reviewing each response to the 22 Recommendations and will table her response after due process.
Copies of the Report are available at the Office of the Ombudsman, 14 Dundonald Street, Hamilton or on www.ombudsman.bm.
The Ombudsman has given the 55 images of documents and pictures reproduced in the Report to the Archives, in CD form, for public access.
For more information, contact Arlene Brock, Ombudsman for Bermuda, at 296-6541.
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5th February 2010
To all Media: Ombudsman for Bermuda submits Fourth Annual Report
Hamilton, Bermuda: Arlene Brock, the Ombudsman for Bermuda, submitted to Parliament today the Fourth Annual Report of the operations of her office.
The report highlighted Ms. Brock’s election as the Regional Vice-President (for Latin America and the Caribbean) on the Board of Directors of the International Ombudsman Institute (“IOI”). She noted that “Bermuda will have the honour of hosting the Annual Board Meeting of the IOI in October. Members of the Board will make a presentation on Ombudsman principles, practices and developments – I hope that the public will take advantage and learn about the evolution of the Ombudsman elsewhere”.
The report also excerpted sections of the Special Report, tabled in June 2009, of the Systemic Investigation into Allegations of Barriers to Access to the Archives. In accordance with s.16 of the Ombudsman Act 2004, the Ministry responsible must detail (a) what has been done or (b) is proposed to effect the recommendations or (c) reasons if no action is to be taken. As a few of the recommendations have financial and possibly legislative implications, Ms. Brock extended the deadline for a detailed response to the end of March.
July 31st, 2010 will mark the fifth anniversary of the institution of the Ombudsman in Bermuda. Ms Brock will host lunchtime chats each Wednesday in June. She says “this will be an informal opportunity for the public to ask questions and give us their comments on our work to date”. Ms. Brock will also seek feedback from other stakeholders including members of the legislature, the public service and community organizations. She noted “this is the right time to evaluate what needs improvement and whether our Act should be amended to ensure more effective handling of complaints”.
Both the Fourth Annual Report and the Special Report on the Archives are available at www.ombudsman.bm.
Editor’s background notes:
The Ombudsman is an independent, non-government official who investigates complaints from the public about maladministration in the delivery of public services.
The Ombudsman Act 2004 is the governing legislation.
The Office of the Ombudsman was established in August 2005 and Ms. Arlene Brock was appointed for an eight year term by the then Governor, after consultation with the then Premier and then Opposition Leader.
The International Ombudsman Institute (“IOI”) comprises over 130 national, provincial, state and other public sector Ombudsmen from around the world. The IOI was established in 1978 and in September 2009 moved its headquarters from the University of Alberta in Canada to Vienna where it is hosted by the Government of Austria.
Every four years, three Ombudsmen are elected to the IOI Board of Directors from each of six geographical regions. Amongst the three Regional Directors, one is also elected as the Regional Vice-President.
The Directors for Latin America and the Caribbean are the Ombudsmen for Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago and Bermuda. Ms. Brock was also elected as Regional Vice-President.
The Special Report on Allegations of Barriers to Access to the Bermuda Archives was tabled in June 2009. As a few Recommendations have financial and possibly legislative implications, Ms. Brock extended the deadline for a detailed response from the Permanent Secretary Responsible for the Archives (the Secretary to the Cabinet) to end of March 2010.
Over 55 images of old Bermuda included in the Special Report have also been given to the Bermuda Archives on a CD.
For more information, contact Arlene Brock, Ombudsman for Bermuda, at 296-6541.
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