Local Govt scores low...Ombudsman...

The twenty-eighth annual report disclosed that 1,344 written complaints were received in 2005, with an additional 183 enquiries at the office. The office got 1,012 complaints in 2004.

The report, signed by former Ombudsman, George A Edoo, and submitted to Parliament, said the figure represents a 34 percent increase in the average number of complaints received in previous years. Of the 1,334 complaints received in 2005, a substantial number was recorded against various government ministries and departments. According to the Ombudsman’s report, most of these complaints, 127, were made against local government bodies, comprising city, borough and regional corporations. The report said the complaints related primarily to road conditions, drainage and other infrastructural deficiencies. Daily-rated workers in these bodies also complained about alleged discrimination in employment practices.

There were 99 complaints against the Tobago House of Assembly, which were concerned mainly with employment practices and social services delivery.

Sixty-five complaints were made against the Health Ministry, and had to do with the provision of proper health care and the delivery of health services. Complaints against the Housing Ministry related mainly to assistance in obtaining housing accommodation, renovation, and failure to access deeds of title after mortgage payments.

A greater awareness of the services provided by the Ombudsman, and a growing demand by citizens for state agencies to provide better services were important factors contributing to the increased flow of complaints, the report said.

The report said the promotional exercise undertaken by the Ombudsman’s office in bringing to the attention of citizens the services they offered, consisting chiefly of collaboration with the postal services, also contributed to the increase.

A total of 660 people accessed the Ombudsman’s outreach programme in 2005, an increase of 71 over the previous year.

In addition, 2,600 complaints were brought forward from the previous years so that the workload at the Ombudsman’s office for 2005 comprised 3,944 complaints.

The Tobago office, established in 2002, received 198 complaints last year, 11 more than 2004.