Ombudsman Gwendolien Mossel (head of table), TEATT Minister Stuart Johnson (left of table) with representatives of the Ombudsman Bureau and TEATT Ministry during their meeting.
PHILIPSBURG--The failure of the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) to follow up on recommendations issued to the ministry was raised during a meeting held by TEATT Minister Stuart Johnson with Ombudsman Gwendolien Mossel recently.
During the meeting, the ombudsman addressed the ministry’s lack of follow-up on recommendations issued in the Philipsburg Marketplace vendors investigation that was concluded in December 2017, as well as requested information about the recent decision of the minister to close the temporary vending outlets at the Kim Sha Beach Marketplace. The similarities of both situations were discussed and the minister was asked to review the recommendations of the ombudsman in the Philipsburg Marketplace case to ensure that mistakes of the past would not be repeated, the ombudsman said in a press statement on Sunday.
The ombudsman also discussed the continuous complaints of citizens in the Simpson Bay area regarding noise pollution and emphasized the need for a multi-sectoral and ministerial approach to tackle this incessant problem, to which the minister agreed.
The ombudsman reminded Johnson that a formal response to the Systemic Investigation Procurement Management Policy (PMP) at Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company PJIAE was still outstanding and emphasized the need for transparency in the procurement policy at the airport, as the Final Report had concluded.
“The PMP is insufficiently transparent at the level of the functionally responsible government body for PJIAE/government. The evaluation criteria used in the tendering and selection of bidders appear not to be accessible to interested (third) parties and the public in general,” the ombudsman said. The ombudsman highlighted the importance of compliance with recommendations issued to the ministries as this promotes good governance.
The ombudsman complimented the ministry on the reduction of complaints regarding the timely issuance of business licences and encouraged the minister to maintain the policies that had facilitated the decrease in complaints. The meeting concluded with the suggestion of the minister to continue with periodic meetings with the ombudsman, whereby pending investigations and outstanding matters could be thoroughly discussed.
The meeting was held at Johnson’s request to discuss pending cases and some other concerns of the ombudsman as it relates to the ministry. Representatives of the ministry were also present at the meeting. The ombudsman applauded the initiative of the minister to meet on the issues.
