But the former Ombudsman says the PM has it all wrong: the Ombudsman's office will house the Human Rights Office, not the other way around. Here's how he put it:
Jules Vasquez
"Like he said you both off more than you could chew."
Gilbert Swaso, Former Ombudsman
"Does it sound familiar now Jules that one I couldn't write a legal paper right and now I am biting off more than I could chew right but let me say for the record that in 2023, the government of Belize took the opportunity to to declare at the United Nations that they the government of Belize will establish a national human rights institute in Belize and that office will be lodged in the office of the ombudsman. After such a declaration the ombudsman along with representatives from several government ministries, established what is called a national human rights institute committee which was cochaired by the ombudsman and representatives from the ministry of foreign affairs. Included in that committee is also a member from the attorney generals office and we met on several occasions to discuss the parts forward as it relates to the national human rights institute. Furthermore Jules you can check in the record the 2023 ombudsman report, therein contained an article about the establishment of a national human rights institute the ombudsman annual report of 2024 also provided an update for the general public for the ministries and the general public and reports written reports were given to the office of the prime minister, not only by the ombudsman but also by the ministry of foreign affairs, so I there say look at the records and it is then as the government stated that the human rights institute will be established and integrated into the office of the ombudsman not the other way around."
