Attorney General Responds to Ombudsman Vacancy Legal Challenge

A legal fight over the former Ombudsman’s contract is now turning out to be a major test of Belize’s oversight institutions. Retired Major Gilbert Swaso is taking the Government of Belize to court, claiming the state failed to respect the constitutional terms of his office. Swaso also alleges that government refused to renew his contract in December 2025 because of a Freedom of Information ruling he made against the state. Following a recent case management conference, the court has now set timelines for submissions ahead of trial on November twentieth, 2026. Today, we asked Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre for an update.

 

Anthony Sylvestre, Attorney General

“As it with most case management , what would, what would occur, the court would give timelines as it relates to the filing. And in this particular case the court gave a timeline for the filing of affidavit in response. So this is a appeal that was made by the Attorney General Ministry. With respect to a decision that was taken by the Ombudsman, that decision, and I need to state this and so as to disabuse persons from what has been actually said in the public. I know it has been said and much has been made of the fact that, well, how does the state want to challenge a constitutional office? There’s nothing.  Well, first of all, the rule of law, that’s a part of  a constituent part of democracy. What that means simply is that every single office holder, whether it be the Prime Minister, whether it be the Ombudsman, whether it be a judge, that they must, in exercising their function and duty, they must comply with the dictates of the law.”

 

While Swaso maintains this case is vital to protecting the transparency and integrity of the Ombudsman’s office, the government now has until this Friday to submit its formal response.

 

Government Challenged Over Empty Ombudsman Office

 

The empty chair in the Office of the Ombudsman is now creating more than a political problem. It is triggering legal action. Just days after former Ombudsman Retired Major Gilbert Swaso moved forward with his constitutional claim against the government, social activist Jeremy Enriquez filed a separate challenge over the prolonged vacancy. Enriquez argues that by failing to appoint a successor, the state is denying Belizeans access to justice and weakening one of the country’s key accountability offices. He says Freedom of Information appeals, including two of his own, are now stuck because there is no Ombudsman to hear them. Today, we asked Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre about the latest case.

 

Anthony Sylvestre, Attorney General

“He as well has brought a claim in which he is seeking the court to order the government, to direct the government to appoint an Ombudsman. But as, as you asked earlier and you indicated earlier, that process already started with respect to the vacancy and that is a process which is handled by  a committee of the National Assembly. That is the Ombudsman Reports Committee, which comprises both opposition and government, members.”

 

Britney Gordon

“I saw that a vacancy  was posted. Does that mean that we are any steps closer to the completion of the implementation of that human rights institution?”

 

Anthony Sylvestre

“So, as I had explained on last occasion, that is and was a commitment that was made by the government. Now, if you look at the vacancy, the vacancy, indicates that it would be preferable if someone Who’s applying and a successful, applicant would have knowledge and experience in that area. That was entered into with the Ombudsman Office and the European Union. It’s a three-year project. So, the idea is that to have the new ombudsman, whoever that person is, will have courage and will continue to work to ensure that the office, the National Institute of Human Rights, that would be set up properly. And so that is why the request is made in the vacancy for persons who are applying for the job. And it’d be preferable that a person has such experience and knowledge and be able to help  with facilitating and accelerating the process.”

 

CCJ Removes Hurdles in Enriquez’s Redistricting Appeal

 

The legal fight over Belize’s electoral boundaries is moving again. Social activist Jeremy Enriquez says the CCJ has cleared the way for his constitutional challenge to proceed, after removing key procedural barriers. Today, the Attorney General spoke on what happens next.

 

Anthony Sylvestre, Attorney General

“The redistricting matter, so Mr. Enriquez made three applications and made three appeals to CCJ. The written decision would have been handed down I think about a couple of weeks now. He was successful in two and not successful in one of them. So what that means is that the matters will go back before the Court of Appeal for hearing. Those are what as lawyers would refer to as interlocutory applications, meaning they don’t deal with the substantive matter. So, we are in July 2026. That matter was filed in February, so a year and months later, we still haven’t got into the substantive, we still haven’t got into the substantive matter, which is the question of whether the current boundaries are in fact actually unconstitutional, no?”

 

Enriquez’s case, first filed in February 2025, argues that outdated divisions violate Belizeans’ right to equal representation

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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