The Office of the Ombudsman celebrated a milestone achievement yesterday, presenting its 50th Annual Report to the public. The Ombudsman, Mr. Harry Ganoo, along with Senior Investigations Officer, Mr. Amarnath Ramtahul, and other officials from the Office, were in attendance.
The 50th edition of the Annual Report provides an overview of the Office’s activities in 2023, during which it received 639 new complaints and determined that 436 cases fell within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Mauritius. Notably, the report highlights a 2.4% increase in the total number of cases handled and a 9.7% rise in complaints investigated, despite operational challenges.
In his address, Mr. Ganoo emphasized the Office’s mission to enhance public service by investigating and reporting alleged maladministration by public authorities. He outlined the Office’s guiding objectives and stressed the importance of sharing investigation findings broadly to improve public services and raise awareness. To ensure transparency, the Office has posted summaries of “own-motion” investigations on its website while protecting complainant identities as required by constitutional provisions.
The Ombudsman also highlighted his visits to Rodrigues, where he met with local stakeholders to review investigation progress and enhance awareness about the Office’s role and services. He also discussed actions taken by the Office regarding complaints received from various sectors, including the Mauritius Prison Service, Ministry of Health and Wellness, and Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity.
Mr. Ganoo emphasized the importance of recognizing the Office’s work, which is constitutionally mandated to address grievances and ensure responsiveness from Ministries, authorities, and the Rodrigues Regional Administration. He assured that anonymous complaints are taken seriously and investigated, leading to the resolution of several anomalies within Ministries when found to be valid.
The Ombudsman also expressed his concern that some public authorities have ignored their legal obligations despite repeated reminders. He urged that these obligations be upheld, as the Ombudsman is responsible for addressing these complaints.
This milestone achievement marks a significant step forward for the Office of the Ombudsman in its quest to promote transparency and accountability in public administration.