Download ombudsman

THE MOST POPULAR ALTERNATIVE
DISPUTE MECHANISM IN THE
COMMONWEALTH CARIBBEAN IS THE
OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN.
THE OFFICE WAS ESTABLISHED TO
ADDRESS THOSE ABUSES WHICH THE
ORDINARY COURTS CANNOT
ADEQUATELY HANDLE, OR WHICH ARE
NOT CONVENIENT FOR RESOLUTION
BEFORE THE COURTS .
THUS , THE OFFICE OF THE
WHO IS AN OMBUDSMAN?
 An ombudsman is a person who acts as a
trusted intermediary between an organization and some
internal or external constituency while representing not
only, but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests.
 An ombudsman is an official, usually appointed by
the government or by parliament, who is charged with
representing the interests of the public by investigating and
addressing complaints reported by individual citizens.
 In general, an ombudsman is a state official appointed to
provide a check on government activity in the interests of
the citizen, and to oversee the investigation of complaints of
improper government activity against the citizen
WHAT DOES AN OMBUDSMAN DO?
 Listen to you
 Help untangle
 Answer your questions
 Analyze your situation

 Explain policies and
procedures
 Provide information and
advice
 Explore solutions



bureaucratic red tape
Suggest appropriate
referrals
Assist you in pursuing a
resolution
Apprise administration
of significant trends
Recommend changes in
policies and procedures
HERRO BLAIR
POLITICAL OMBUDSMAN
The office of the political ombudsman in Jamaica appears to
be quite unique in the Caribbean and was born out of the saga
of political violence in the country.
It is therefore an attempt on the part of both leading parties to
appoint a conciliator to help reduce political terror and
conflict
The role of the Political Ombudsman is to conduct
investigations into complaints relating to party political issues
and to perform other functions in accordance with the
provisions of the Act.
The Office of Political Ombudsman was established in 2002.
(ALSO CALLED PUBLIC DEFENDER )
EARL WITTER
PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN
 The Office of the Public Defender was created in 2000 by the
Public Defender Act 1999, replacing the Office of the
Parliamentary Ombudsman which had existed since 1978.
 The Public Defender (currently Earl Witter) has the typical
ombudsman function of investigating and remedying
maladministration, with additional jurisdiction to investigate
alleged violations of constitutional rights.
 The office of Public Defender is a commission of the
Parliament, established by statute. The Public Defender
(Interim) Act, 1999 is mandated to protect and enforce the
rights of citizens.
OMBUDSMAN FOR
CONTRACTS
(CONTRACTOR GENERAL)
GREG CHRISTIE
OMBUDSMAN FOR CONTRACTS
 CONTRACTOR GENERAL
 The Contractor-General is an independent, anti-corruption Commission of
Parliament. It was established by the Contractor General Act in 1986.


It is the State's leading institution in the quest to ensure that the public
sector procurement process delivers value to the tax-payer, is merit based,
is free from corruption, impropriety and irregularity and is transparent,
impartial, competitive, fair, efficient and effective. Its primary functions are
the monitoring and investigation of the award of Government contracts,
licenses and permits.
The Contractor-General is appointed by the Governor General, by
instrument under the Broad Seal, after consultation with the Prime
Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. In the exercise of his statutory
powers, a Contractor-General is not subject to the direction or control of
any other person or authority. The current Contractor-General is Greg
Christie, a Caribbean and British trained Attorney-at-Law.
(OFFICE OF UTILITIES
REGULATION)
AHMAD ZIA
MIAN
Director general:
office of utilities
regulation
FUNCTION OF THE PUBLIC
UTILITIES
OMBUDSMAN
The public
utility ombudsman
is also referred to as the
office of utilities regulations
PUO has the power to intervene in disputes relating to
the following government agencies in Jamaica:





The National Water Commission;
The Jamaica Railroad Cooperation;
The Post and Telegraph Department;
Air Jamaica Ltd.;
The Jamaica Public Service Commission.
COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE PUO
 Excessive billing
 Unavailability of services
 Incorrect billing
 Inadequate street lighting
 Defective meters
 Disconnections
 Illegal telephone calls
 Estimated billing
 Lost luggage
GROUP THREE
 Christal Hay
 Coleen Pusey
 Peta-Kay McFarlane
 Jamar Stoner
 Shanice Watson