<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Garamond;
panose-1:2 2 4 4 3 3 1 1 8 3;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.hoenzb
{mso-style-name:hoenzb;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Garamond",serif;
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-NZ link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>I think you need to understand the role of the Ombudsman in this situation. I do not have judicial authority to rule on whether or not an election was fair or not. My jurisdiction is limited to issues of fairness within the ICANN community. So if something occurs during the course of an election which is unfair, then I do have the power to investigate and recommend changes. I cannot order anything to be done. I only ever suggest that something be changed. In the context of the first election, where there was a dispute over the fairness, the only alternative was to run the election again. That was my recommendation, although I believe it was generally accepted, albeit reluctantly, as the best way to review what had happened.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>In terms of representation of the Caribbean constituency, there is clearly a divide between the different groups as to representation. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on an ongoing process, until the process is completed. If the process was again found to be unfair, I could then recommend some further action. I am always ready to try to mediate between the different groups so that instead of the present distrust and disharmony, LACRALO could address some of the significant issues such as the IANA transition and accountability.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>But of members of the constituency think I should be doing something else, then please reach out to me, in confidence if you wish.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Regards<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'>Chris LaHatte<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'>Ombudsman<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'>Blog <a href="https://omblog.icann.org/">https://omblog.icann.org/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'>Webpage <a href="http://www.icann.org/en/help/ombudsman">http://www.icann.org/en/help/ombudsman</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'>Confidentiality<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'>All matters brought before the Ombudsman shall be treated as confidential. The Ombudsman shall also take all reasonable steps necessary to preserve the privacy of, and to avoid harm to, those parties not involved in the complaint being investigated by the Ombudsman.The Ombudsman shall only make inquiries about, or advise staff or Board members of the existence and identity of, a complainant in order to further the resolution of the complaint. The Ombudsman shall take all reasonable steps necessary to ensure that if staff and Board members are made aware of the existence and identity of a complainant, they agree to maintain the confidential nature of such information, except as necessary to further the resolution of a complaint<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>