This Strategic Plan for the Office of the Complaints Commission (OCC), Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) provides a keystone reference for execution of critical policies and goals. It has been designed to support and respond to the Government’s Vision 2040 document.
Specifically, the overall goal is to establish effective institutions and systems that are responsive to public needs, provide delivery of essential service and promote inclusive growth, while inclusive political processes ensure citizens can hold public officials to account.
This Strategic Plan represents a huge step forward in accountability and transparency for the OCC as a whole, its stakeholders and for individual employees. It identifies specific projects and initiatives to be undertaken, and the revenue needed to efficiently accomplish them. During each year of the plan, the OCC will report on the progress that has been made.
The OCC faces the following crucial challenges within the Turks and Caicos Islands:
- The lack of public awareness of the OCC functions and its obligation to the public in relation to maladministration within Government Departments and Statutory bodies.
- Due to the sudden growth of the population in the TCI over the past 10-15 years especially on the island of Providenciales. The wider public along the other sister islands have no face to face contact with the Commissioner to lodge a complaint, therefore, matters of maladministration are often left unresolved.
The relocation of the office in Grand Turk to a central location is to meet the community needs. By establishing a Commission on the Island of Providenciales along with the increased travel throughout these islands, this increase of cost accounts for a significant percent or increase reflected in the annual budget.
Just like other countries, there is great potential for the evolution of the OCC to promote good governance and execute justice as it relates to maladministration.
There is an increase urgency to address the above-mentioned issues. Continuous delay will affect results in the level of service provided to the public by the OCC. Should the OCC fail to meet the needs and expectations of the people of the Turks and Caicos Island, the disadvantage would be lack of procedural and legislative change to improve the established services and decision-making processes.
The need for the promotion of public awareness within the Islands improves efficiency and accountability of the public sector and tackle maladministration. By establishing a strong presence of the OCC a good governance body this will help the Turks and Caicos Islands achieve sustainable development and human well-being. The advantages would be that it has strong positive effects on social trust, life satisfaction, peace and political legitimacy.
Mission
The Office of the Complaints Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Turks & Caicos Islands seeks to investigate complaints of maladministration by Government Departments and Statutory Bodies as stipulated in the Ordinance, promote effectiveness and efficiency within services rendered to the community, educate persons about their rights and duties in a free democratic society, and provide a service to the public in fairness, justice and without prejudice, so as to promote harmony and good governance in the country.
Vision
To be an organization that permeates the community with fairness, impartiality, and harmony by promoting good governance and executing justice, thereby creating trust between members of the community and the public.
Core Values
Our Values guide our goals and actions, reinforcing everything we do at the OCC- What we believe in:
Accountability
Reassuring members of the public that Public Officers, Government Departments and Statutory Bodies are evaluated on its performance and behavior as specified by legislation.
Fairness
Carry out all investigations with just treatment and without favoritism or discrimination.
Transparency
Our intention here at the Commission is to be open and honest with individuals who seek redress.
Trust
Maintaining public and employee trust.
Ethics
Demonstrating the highest levels of integrity and principled conduct.
Impartiality
All complaints are treated with equal importance.
Justice
The Commissioner along with the staff of the Commission have an obligation to administer the law and ensure the relevant authority upholds law in accordance with legislation.
Reinforcing these values is a commitment to maintaining our strength, which is important to the successful adoption of our strategic plan.