Turks and Caicos Islanders have a new champion to support their complaints about public authorities in the Territory, said Complaints Commissioner, Cynthia Astwood, who introduced herself to the media today, Tuesday, 24 September 2014.
Astwood’s Office of the Complaints Commission will take on the cases of disgruntled Islanders only after exhausting the complaints processes within any government department or statutory body concerned.
“We aim to play our part in improving public services by providing citizens with form of recourse when good service standards are not met,” said Cynthia Astwood.
The Complaints Commission can investigate any action taken by a public body, including: grievances and conflicts in the workplace; performance issues, discrimination; harassment; corruption; maladministration, such as delays, bias, negligence, abuse of power, failing to give reason for a decision, not following through on a commitment.
“My office is working to ensure that every government ministry and statutory body in the country has a named individual responsible for investigating complaints,” Astwood continued. “We will work with each of these public bodies to constantly seek ways of improving their systems and service provided to the Turks and Caicos Islands public. Only if that complaint is not handled in a professional manner, where no satisfactory resolution has been reached, can a complaint be submitted to the Commission.
“In making this announcement today, we hope to begin to educate the wider population about their rights and duties in a democratic society.”
In carrying out investigations the Complaints Commissioner has the same powers as a Magistrate, and is able to enter and inspect any premises of any public office and, where necessary, retain or copy documents.
The Commission cannot investigate complaints about the Governor, Cabinet, House of Assembly, Justices, Magistrates, the Police or Chief Auditors, where separate complaints arrangements are in place.
