Wednesday October 1st marked one year since Ms. Jurima Bryson was sworn in as the first Ombudsman of Aruba. Over the past year, significant groundwork has been laid to build a solid foundation for delivering effective and trustworthy services to the community.
Ms. Bryson, who has led this process as Aruba’s first Ombudsman, reflects on the journey:
“Over the past year, our team has worked diligently to establish the Bureau Ombudsman, develop essential procedures, and build lasting relationships with colleagues and institutions. Our goal is to offer the people of Aruba a professional and reliable service. In the coming weeks, we will finalize the remaining details and are proud to announce that the Bureau Ombudsman will officially open its doors to the public on December 1, 2025.”
With this opening, Aruba and its visitors will gain an independent and impartial institution where you can submit complaints, seek advice, and request information. The Bureau is entering its final phase of establishment and will address complaints related to:
- Administrative bodies
- Public legal entities
- State-owned enterprises
- Private organizations performing public interest tasks and receiving public funds
- Private entities responsible for services to children and youth (up to 17 years old) in areas such as education, youth assistance, childcare, and healthcare
- As well as all these entities current and former employees.
What is the role of the Ombudsman?
In a nutshell, the Ombudsman is the middle man between you and government or semi-government agencies. This means that as a local or as a visitor of Aruba, you can file a complaint to the bureau of the Ombudsman against government and semi-government agencies.
Already left the island? No problem. The Ombudsman of Aruba can still receive and handle your complaint even from abroad. You only have to provide a way for them to reach you.
Because this is the first time Aruba has an Ombudsman, the bureau office is still not in operation, but Ombudsman Bryson assured that the office will be open sometime in the second half of the year. In the mean time, you can follow the bureau on Instagram and Facebook. “We provide almost daily information so they can understand the role of the Ombudsman, what she can do for them and which kinds of complaints they can submit.”
The Bureau Ombudsman is committed to being accessible to everyone. Complaints will be assessed based on the standards of proper conduct, published in April 2025.
Ms. Bryson extends her heartfelt gratitude to the public for their patience and support throughout the past year.Stay informed by following Bureau Ombudsman Aruba on social media:
Facebook: Ombudsman Aruba
Instagram: @ombudsmanaruba
LinkedIn: Ombudsman Aruba
