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By Kevon Browne
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS (WINN) – On Friday, July 5, 2024, the Parliament of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis passed the Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The Second Reading of the Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2024 was chaired by the Attorney General and Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs, the Honourable Garth Wilkin. The Bill was originally introduced on 22 February 2024.
The Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is in line with recent legislative efforts such as the Foundations (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Limited Partnerships (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which were passed on the same day.
The Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2024 focuses on improving certain aspects of the existing Chapter 3.22 of the Ombudsman Act, in particular, adjusting the remuneration and tenure of the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman Act was enacted in July 2008 and established the function of investigating government conduct, detecting mismanagement and making recommendations for improvement – an important aspect of national governance oversight.
Attorney General Wilkin highlighted the role of the amendment in aligning the Ombudsman’s role within a wider governance framework that currently includes the Integrity Commission, the Information Commissioner under the Freedom of Information Act and the Special Prosecutor under the Anti-Corruption Act.
“When the Ombudsman Act was first enacted in 2008, it was the primary governance oversight mechanism. With the subsequent establishment of a comprehensive anti-corruption infrastructure, this amendment integrates the responsibilities of the Ombudsman’s office with those of the Information Commissioner, ensuring consistency and efficiency in governance oversight.”
He stressed that the purpose of the amendment is to optimize resources and maintain fiscal prudence while expanding governance responsibilities.
“As our governance framework continues to evolve, it is critical to streamline and maximize resources to sustain these advances.”
St. Kitts and Nevis’ commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and effective governance is underscored by the passage of the Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The amendment strengthens the country’s commitment to building strong governance institutions that are able to meet current and future challenges.
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