News and Press Releases

Ombudsman Hamlison Bulu yesterday 14th of May 2020 signed a contract with representatives of Loli construction for the completion of an extension made to the Ombudsman Haus which commenced on December 2019.

The Office of the New Zealand Chief Ombudsman in Wellington, New Zealand, has successfully organised a first ever Leadership Forum for all the Ombudsman’s Offices of the Pacific Region on the 26th and 27th February 2020. The Forum was held at the beautiful and peaceful LaValla Estate in a small town outside Auckland called Tuakau.

"I urge everyone concerned to ensure that we are partners in ensuring there is good governance because the leading role of the Ombudsman in the essence of that role, is good governance".

The country's sixth Ombudsman, Hamlison Bulu, has made the above call to all Leaders at this time as they enter the period for the 2020 general election this month.

The office of the Ombudsman wishes to let the people of the Republic of Vanuatu know that there are now processes to be adhered to, before and when lodging complaints with the Office.

The Ombudsman’s extension building is slowly taking shape after nearly two months of construction.

The office space has been a concern over the past and has caused setbacks to increase much needed staff capacity.

The office of the Ombudsman had its second amendment gazetted by the Office of State Law in the Official Gazette no.8 of 2020 which was published on the 6th of February 2020.

Senior Management Team having initial discussions with Tracy and Eleanor.

Two representatives from the New Zealand Chief Ombudsman’s office visited the office of the Vanuatu Ombudsman’s Office in the last week of January 2020.

Prime Minister Hon. Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas Minister Responsible for the Ombudsman tabled the bill in Parliament.

The Ombudsman Act No. 27 of 1998 was amended in December 2019, after 21 years. The last amendment was made in 1998. The amendment affects the current Act by three folds: The Office of the Ombudsman Governance moving away from the Public Services Commissions, which means the amendment now gives the power to the Ombudsman to appoint its own staff to maintain its independency as echoed by the Constitution.

The Office of the Ombudsman completed a 4 days retreat from the 13th to the 16th of January 2020 at the Melanesian Hotel.

Ombudsman Bulu

The year 2019 was another successful year for the Office of the Ombudsman, particularly in reducing an overwhelming number of complaints received and dealt with over the years, amounting to backlog. In January 2019, the Ombudsman’s Office was investigating a total of 257 complaints. At the end of December 2019, the total number of registered complaints within the office was reduced to 142.