Complaints Commissioner Mr Elton Georges has once again pointed fingers directly at the sources he felt were responsible for the shortcomings of the Commission during 2012. Photo: VINO/File

Mr Georges also believes Governor William B. McCleary could have made a difference in the effectiveness of the Commission but has failed to use his powers to act in this regard. Photo VINO

The Office of Complaints Commissioner exists to provide an avenue of last resort to the public for redress of grievances arising from the administrative action of any government agency including any department, unit, statutory body, public board or committee. Photo: www.ombudsman.vg

In the 2012 annual report of the Complaints Commission laid in the House of Assembly by Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon. D. Orlando Smith on October 7, 2013, Mr Georges noted that many disappoints remain constant and the shortcomings he has been alluding to over the years continue to fall on deaf ears.

“The low level of compliance with recommendations, the apparent failure of the governor and cabinet members to have an impact on this, the failure of the House of Assembly to act on special reports, the continuing need for an investigator with law qualification with staff. These shortcomings are all highlighted in previous reports..” he said in the report.

According to Mr Georges, some of the maladministration is structural and rooted in the difficulties of operating what he described as a “complicated variegated” governance structure in a tiny population.

“...Especially as there is a large immigrant element and significant sections of the populace appear to be, by unwritten rule, excluded from participation in certain offices and roles,” states Georges in his 2012 report.

He stated that the House of Assembly has failed to act on any reports laid as a body nor has any individual member tabled a question, “Even though the official conduct reported on cannot, in some cases, be described as less than outrageous.”

Mr Georges, nevertheless, praised the local for providing an opportunity for information to get out into the public domain.

The absence of a labour tribunal, however, continues to be a consistent hammer on the heads of the responsible authorities. “The government ought to give the proper priority to ensuring that the bodies required by law are in place and able to operate. That enables procedural justice and earns the citizen’s trust.”

According to Mr Georges in the 2012 report, the Minister of Finance had given approval for the funds for the office to be provided by way of subvention. “The mechanics of this change remained to be worked out.”

The approved budget for the Commission for the year 2012 totaled $341,700 of which $287,130 was spent.