As we have been reporting, Belize still does not have an Ombudsman. The last Ombudsman, Major Gilbert Swaso's contract was not renewed in December.
He is now taking legal action against the government for paying him $100,000 a year (!) less than they were legally obligated to, and for the politically curious circumstances surrounding his termination. The lawsuit falls before Attorney General, Anthony Sylvester who gave us his thoughts:
Anthony Sylvestre, SC - Attorney General
"So the office of the Ombudsman is independent of government. So it makes requests for whatever expenditure that it be for additional staff and whatever needs. And so a request for an independent counsel, that would be made, through the clerk's office because the Ombudsman is... so the parliamentary, the parliamentary officer so, so what the what should happen is that that request should be made through the Clerk of the National Assembly's office, and in turn, that would be transmitted to the Financial Secretary. But, as I had been, I see no difficulty, no no reason or no issue why the office should not have independent counsel."
Reporter
"The Ombudsman, in his decision against you, was acting in the interest of a citizen who was pressing on the public's right to know how public funds are being spent. Being that he is no longer there, who will now stand for the citizen's rights to know how public funds are being spent?"
Anthony Sylvestre, SC - Attorney General
"So, as explained by the honorable Prime Minister, it knows the office still exists. You still have all the different, officers of the of the office and and those functions still can be addressed. And so there is, there is, there is really and unfortunately, let us, let me see this. The, the delay which, which is regrettable in terms of the appointment of the Ombudsman, it is not something that, that certainly we wanted. It's as a result of the process that now follows, incorporating a National Human Rights institute in the office of the Ombudsman. So, as you well know, the office of the Ombudsman has really already has a large number of functions in addressing citizens complaints with respect to maladministration and and so on, so forth. The, the proposed creation, establishment of a National Human Rights Institute is one which would further extend the functions and responsibilities of the Ombudsman's office. And that includes, for instance, promoting and addressing human rights issues, as well as providing as well issues relating to education and advocacy of human rights. Now question would be, how do you host this meeting? Is this to be done? So there is a working team that has been established, which includes, both private sector, social partners and persons from the Ministry, of some government ministers. My understanding is that they meet Monday to continue that process in terms of trying to formalize. How do we do this? Because what will necessarily, follow from this is that the qualification of the Ombudsman may need to change. So these are things which, which regrettably, unfortunately have delayed the process. But what I can say is that, we are moving as, as, as fast and as quickly as possible, obviously not to total dissatisfaction understandably so of of of persons who are concerned. But what I can say. Unquestionably. That we are moving and that we seek to address this issue, as soon as possible."
