The latest report covers the 2005-2006 operation year and it is only made public towards the end of 2007 when everybody has forgotten what issues were reported. Strike when the iron is hot! Does anybody at the Office of the President has any idea what the significance of this cliche is?
For some very queer reason, the report was sent to the Office of the President by December 15, 2006 but it was only released to its intended consumers - the public by end of August this year. It is understandable that the Ombudsman sends his report to the President and thereafter it is presented to Parliament. Surely this routine processes should not drag for more than eight months as it has been the case with the current report. Before the Ombudsman can be taken seriously, he should ensure that his report reaches the public in good time. The Ombudsman might have been appointed by the President but he is ultimately accountable to the public. It is definitely not frivolous to ask the Ombudsman's report to be released soon after it has been compiled. This is all we ask. It is untidy for bureaucrats to be unduly delaying what is our report with their long red tape.
