The island’s Ombudsman is to step down next March after eight years in the role.

Victoria Pearman said she was proud of the work the office had carried out during her tenure – particularly faced with the “extraordinary challenges for us all” caused by Covid-19.

She added: “For the next six months we will continue to carry out our carefully considered priorities. We have a great team who are assisting me.”

Ms Pearman, a lawyer, was appointed to the position in 2014 for a five-year period before John Rankin, the previous Governor, extended her appointment for three years in 2019.

She replaced Arlene Brock in the independent constitutional post.

The role was designed to provide an opportunity for people to resolve disputes with public services and to hold the Government to account.

The appointment is made by the Governor under the Bermuda Constitution Order.

The job is advertised for an initial period of five years, with the possibility of a three-year extension.

The recruitment process for a new Ombudsman has started.

Recent work of the office included “unexpected Covid-19 matters which involved consulting with a wide range of authorities and public officials to ask questions on specific topics and share helpful information”.

The Ombudsman’s 2020 report can be found here.

Ms Pearman graduated with a law degree from the London School of Economics and was Called to the Bar in Bermuda in 1993.

She established Juris Law Chambers in Hamilton in 1998.

Ms Pearman was appointed as a Progressive Labour Party senator in 2001 and was junior education minister.