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Complaints Commission faced issues addressing complaints last year

Complaints Commissioner, Erica Smith-Penn. GIS Photo

In the recently published 2022 Standing Finance Committee (SFC) Report, Complaints Commissioner Erica Smith-Penn noted her team faced several challenges addressing complaints about the public service last year.

She told the SFC that the three main challenges faced by her team are understanding and support, physical resources, and issues of rights.

Despite these challenges, Smith-Penn said the Complaints Commission managed to complete some of the complaints it received last year as they were simple. However, the Commission has experienced some delays.

“Approximately 22 complaints were received for the year. In terms of resolutions, given the current climate, we were experiencing some delays. However, there were some matters that were very simple that could be resolved in short order, but it required a decision to be made,” she told the SFC.

Smith-Penn also added that a post needs to be created for an Assistant Commissioner as there were some weighty investigative matters that would require additional staffing.

She told the SFC that with the additional post, her department would be able to hire a qualified officer who was trained and had the necessary skills which are important when doing investigative reporting. Smith-Penn also highlighted that security was another problem faced.

During the SFC sitting, the Acting Premier, Dr Natalio Wheatley told the Complaints Commissioner that the Minister of Finance and the Finance Ministry would consider any requests made and do all it could in granting the request given the resources the government has.

Smith-Penn then inquired if her department had received approval of the request for a copier and a vehicle from the Finance Ministry. However, the SFC Chairman stated that the request would be referred to the Acting Minister of Finance and the Ministry of Finance for their consideration.

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11 Comments

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  1. shaken says:

    A vehicle!!! Give me, and other taxpayers a break!!!!

    Like 11
    Dislike 3
  2. She is good says:

    Mrs Smith-Penn is amazing.

    Natalio ain’t tired airing out hot air? Not even a copier he can approve? Strupes. VIP is a whole waste.

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  3. 22 complaints in a year? says:

    Really, just 22 complaints in a year and she cannot do that herself? And she wants a vehicle? Perhaps more focus on just doing the job and less focus on getting a copier and a vehicle would allow cases other than the “simple” cases to be resolved. Give me a break.

    Like 10
    Dislike 1
  4. @ SHE IS GOOD ? says:

    oh yeah, and neathly put ? let’s see what blondie and the csc got to holler about her now / all those who got the stimulus money ? $$ as the WIG guy said should be ( DECENT ) enough to donate a copier and those ( BARGES ) can be ( DECENT ) enough to donate a RIDE to her office to really help to do the government ‘s work (4 REAL

  5. BVIslander says:

    I am trying to comprehend why a department that received 22 complaints during a 365 day period needs a deputy commissioner and a vehicle. This seems like waste and madness. The photocopier I understand, they should have already have one. But if you need a vehicle intermittently wouldn’t a vehicle stipend for use of your own vehicle be enough. Or perhaps less costly for them to have a arrangement to share a vehicle with another govt department. This is just a continuation of the fleecing of the Virgin Islands, these so called leaders will be the death of this country.

    Like 11
  6. Elsa says:

    We seem to focus on the wrong things. Every government department have a vehicle, so they need one too with nowhere to go – Stupes. Sit down in your office and do your work.

  7. Really says:

    Her team, how many people does she have working for her already. Maybe if she would handle the complaints instead of running to the COI talking nonsense she would have gotten things done. do 22 complaints in one year need more then one person? The one complaint I have heard about not a thing has been done about it. And security – lol.

  8. WOW WOW WOW says:

    This woman is a waste! Only 22 complaints and she want a vehicle and more staff ? LMAO!

    The late Elton Georges had more complaints and he didn’t ask for anything!

  9. Seriously says:

    Twenty two complaints for the year, works out to be 1.8 complaints per month end you need more staff to do what?
    Some of these posts need to become redundant – waste of taxpayers money.

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