Who Will Lead Belize’s New Human Rights Institution?

With Belize moving ahead with plans to establish a National Human Rights Institution, questions are growing over the absence of a substantive ombudsman to help steer one of the country’s most significant human rights reforms. In a letter published today, former Ombudsman Gilbert Swaso welcomed the initiative but cautioned that the Office of the Ombudsman, which is expected to serve as the foundation for the new institution, is undertaking the process without permanent leadership in place. Swaso argued that the office’s independence, institutional knowledge and public trust must be safeguarded throughout the transition, while calling for greater clarity on how the institution is being represented as consultations and reforms move forward. Today we spoke with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francis Fonseca, who says the appointment process is already underway.

 

Britney Gordon

“We saw the launch of the National Human Rights Institution. Now that is finally in place, what are the plans to get an ombudsman reappointed?”

 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“That’s going through the, the National Assembly process. As I have said, I think the interviews have been completed. So I think in the next, few weeks there, an announcement will be made as to who that new ombudsman will be.”

 

Belize has been without an Ombudsman since December thirty-first, 2025.

 

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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