Vanuatu Ombudsman

According to the Office of the Ombudsman, more than 400 people currently occupy positions classified as Leaders as spelt out by the Constitution and Leadership Code.

Only five have submitted their annual returns.

The Leaders defined in Article 67 of Vanuatu’s Constitution include the Head of State, the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament.

Section 5 of the Leadership Code stipulates persons holding the following positions are also classified as Leaders.

·        Members of the National Council of Chiefs;

One of the proposals looks at making the Office of the Ombudsman be independent from Public Service Commission.

It has been proposed that the reporting function to the PSC be scrapped and the Ombudsman report to the Attorney General.

According to a Government release, another area highlighted is that investigation processes are long and frustrating.

“Since 1998 to date, there are backlogs because of the lengthy or unclear processes.”