Complaints to the Ombudsman can be made in a number of ways. These include—in writing like letters (including aerogram), fax and email. Complaints can also be made orally in person or through telephone. In addition, complaint can be submitted by filling up the complaint form available on this website.
Ombudsman can refer complaint or part of complaint that is outside the jurisdiction of his/her office to other institutions of integrity.
- Criminal offence — RSIPF
- Misconduct in Office — LCC & PSC
- Labour Issues — Labour Division
No complaint about the government must be left unattended.
Preliminary assessments of complaints are then carried out by the Investigations and Legal Services Units through an internal mechanism known as Receipts and Preliminary Assessments (RAPA), which helps determine whether a complaint can be investigated by the Ombudsman or whether that complaint needs to be referred to another public Institution of Integrity for investigation.
Types of complaints
The Office of the Ombudsman of Solomon Islands (OOSI) is responsible for receiving and investigating complaints on suspected acts of maladministration by Government ministries & departments, Police and Prison Service Commission, Honiara City Council, Provincial Governments, other offices, corporate bodies or public agencies as may be prescribed by Parliament.
The types of complaints that can be investigated by the OOSI in relation to the administrative conduct of public bodies, agencies and contractors include, but are not limited to:
- Unfair decisions and selection processes
- Failure to follow procedures as stipulated by law
- Denial of information and poor record keeping
- Undue delay
- Inadequate consultation and misleading statements
- Not following a fair and open process in awarding of contracts and scholarships
- Failure to give reasons for a decision
- Denying access to information
- Incorrect action or failure to take action
Who can make a complaint?
Anyone in general - any person , group of persons, entitities, members of Parliament or third parties - can make a complaint to the Ombudsman.
It is important to note that the pdf Ombudsman Act 2017 (1.83 MB) offers privileges and protections including anonymity and confidentiality to people making their complaints to the Investigation Unit’s Complaints Intake Team.