Make a Complaint

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Your Voice, Our Action

A Legacy of Accountability and Redress

The Ombudsman can be described as a ‘grievance person’ to whom persons can submit a complaint about maladministration in the public sector. Situations in which maladministration may arise involving a government ministry, department or state agency may include:

Failure to provide client with a response or advice

Delays in addressing an issue or complaint, or a failure to act

Decision or advice not in accordance with established policy, recognised procedures or the law.

Additionally, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Chap. 22:02, the Ombudsman has the power to review cases where access to an official document is refused and to make enquiries where there is a delay in providing same. Persons who have been aggrieved by a public authority and have been unsuccessful in resolving their complaint directly with the institution may submit a complaint to the Ombudsman of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Types Of Complaints We Do Address

The Ombudsman investigates complaints involving various issues, some of which include:

Types Of Complaints We Do Not Address

The Ombudsman may not investigate the following matters, among others:

Unsure whether your particular matter is within the remit of the Office of the Ombudsman?

The Process

Navigating the Complaint Process

1.
Complaint Submission

Complaint is received and reviewed by the Office of the Ombudsman. If found to be outside of the Ombudsman's mandate, the complainant is referred to the relevant institution or appropriately advised.

2.
Investigation

The Ombudsman reviews the complaint and initiates the investigative process. Facts are gathered from documents and relevant persons. Where institutions fail to provide sufficient responses in a timely manner, the Ombudsman may exercise the power to summon witnesses to appear before her and compel them to give evidence on oath and to produce documents relevant to the proceedings before her.

3.
Findings

If investigations confirm the merit of the complaint, the Ombudsman determines how the matter should be resolved. Alternatively, if after investigations the complaint is found to be without merit or determined to be outside of the Ombudsman's jurisdiction, the matter is discontinued.

4.
Recommendations

The Ombudsman makes recommendations to the government department or agency, advising how the institution can provide redress to the complainant and improve its operations to mitigate repeated instances of maladministration.

Your Voice, Our Action

Before Submitting Your Complaint

Be sure to do the following before making a complaint to the Ombudsman.

Write to the organization

An official complaint must first be lodged with the government or state agency where the alleged injustice occurred.

Allow time for a response

The department should be given approximately 4 to 8 weeks to adequately respond regarding the matter before the complaint is brought to the Ombudsman.

Important Note

Submit your complaint once and await contact from our Office. If you have lodged a complaint online, at one of our offices or public outreach locations, please do not make any further submissions of the same complaint(s) through other mediums.

Submitting a Complaint in Person

If you prefer to lodge a complaint in person, you may do so by visiting any of our offices or a public outreach location on the scheduled day.  Be sure to bring a copy of all supporting documents that are relevant to your complaint.

Delay by the NIB in processing:

Delay by Ministry of Social Development and Family Services (Social Welfare Division) in processing:

Complaints against Ministries: Delays in processing:

Ministry of National Security:

Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government:

Judiciary:

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries:

Ministry of Housing and Urban Development:

Ministry of Finance:

Office of the Prime Minister

Ministry of Attorney General and Legal Affairs:

Ministry of Planning and Development

Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs

Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries

Ministry of Works and Transport

Ministry of Tourism

Ministry of Public Administration

Ministry of Youth Development and National Service

Ministry of Trade and Industry

Ministry of Labour

Ministry of Sport and Community Development

Ministry of Public Utilities

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Education

Tobago House of Assembly Division:

Required Documentation

 Before proceeding please have the following items in digital format for submission:

A Valid National ID, Drivers Permit or Passport

NIS / BIR Number & Documentation (if relevant to matter)

All Relevant Documentation (contracts, letters, communications & Payslips)

Images (if relevant to matter)

Authorization Form (download here)
(If you are filing a complaint on behalf of someone else, this form must be completed.)

Terms Of Use

The Office of the Ombudsman takes the integrity of the complaint process seriously. Intentionally submitting false, inaccurate, or misleading information is strictly prohibited and may constitute an offence pursuant to section 10 of the Ombudsman Act, Chap. 2:52.

Please ensure that all information you submit is accurate and truthful, to the best of your knowledge, and relates directly to the complaint/s you wish to make. If you have any concerns or uncertainties about the information you intend to provide, we encourage you to contact one of our offices for guidance.

The utilisation of this online platform would result in your personal information being stored on our electronic database that utilises cloud storage facilities outside of Trinidad and Tobago.

Note: We will use your personal information to process your complaint ONLY. Your personal information will be treated as confidential and is only disclosed if the Ombudsman considers it necessary to discharge his functions in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.