This week, Belize's ICJ team is meeting in the UK for what is called a strategy session. This is in the run-up to early June when Belize is expected to file its Counter-Memorial before the International Court - responding to Guatemala's 500 page memorial, which outlines what Guatemala is claiming in terms of continental land, islands and seas, and the legal grounds for such claims.
It's a very high level meeting - as all Belizeans know - the stakes could not be higher. And, 7News has been reliably informed that the diplomat named as Belize's co-agent at the ICJ, Ambassador Alexis Rosado is there in an official capacity. It's notable because Rosado was recently charged for rape, sexual assault and aggravated assault of an indecent nature is there representing Belize.
We contacted the Minister of Foreign Affairs Eamon Courtenay for a comment and he told us via text, quote, "Ambassador Rosado remains a co-agent for Belize for the ICJ Case and is in London working on finalising Belize's counter-memorial." End quote.
This is an important update that was very noticeably left out of the press release issued by the Foreign Ministry when Rosado was charged; that simply said that he had been ordered to relinquish his Ambassadorial post - and was silent on his role as co-agent, which we learn today, continues.
Now, the public service regulations says a public officer who has been criminally charged may face interdiction and it is up to his Ministry's CEO to make that decision. Rosado is also out on bail, so he would likely have had to get court clearance for travel.
Prior to today's disclosure on Channel 7 of Rosado's continued role in the ministry, there had been no official mention of this very salient fact.
