Ombudsman Arlene Brock is reaching out to “less assertive” people who may be afraid to pursue their right to make a complaint.Ms Brock said her fifth report indicated the confidence with which people pursue their rights can be affected by differences in language, culture and education.“Bermuda is becoming increasingly diverse. Many people come from countries where it can be intimidating to deal with people in authority,” said the Ombudsman in a statement. “It is therefore important that our own office be proactive as well.”Ms Brock is setting up a public access group to provide input to her office on public outreach, diversity, social media and complainant feedback.“Last year, we had a record number of complainants, most of whom were quite assertive about their grievances,” she stated. “We want to make sure that people who are less assertive also feel comfortable to use our services.”She said the public access group will have nine volunteers representing a diverse cross-section of the public.Each will serve for one- or two-year terms and meet quarterly, beginning in January 2012.Ms Brock added: “The Ombudsman world is constantly evolving. With six years under our belt, we are reflecting on how to keep up with international standards in order to be more effective.“A structured way for public input will help to ensure that we are accessible to all.”Anyone interested in joining the public access group should submit expressions of interest by Monday, November 14, to info[AT]ombudsman.bm. Telephone: 296-6541.