Panton Says Ombudsman Ouster Breaches Constitutional Norms

Criticism is mounting over how the government dealt with Ombudsman Gilbert Swazo’s contract, with the Opposition Leader alleging a breach of constitutional and traditional practices. She argues that the Office of the Ombudsman is a critical oversight mechanism and that the matter should have been brought before the National Assembly’s committees well before Swazo’s contract expired. Speaking with News Five, Opposition Leader Tracy Panton warns that the situation leaves the country without a key constitutional officer and reflects a troubling pattern in the administration’s management of public offices.

 

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“I am disappointed to be honest with you Shane. The Office of the Ombudsman is an oversight mechanism for the Government of Belize. It is a constitutionally appointed office and there are clear provisions and processes outlined in the Constitution on how those appointments ought to be handled. It is also customary in these contracts that three months before that contract is up, the officer would need to indicate to the executive whether or not they wish for that position to continue to serve in that position. And clearly based on the Ombudsman’s interview, he did that. We had both a house meeting and a Senate meeting before the end of the year. And so, I think there is no excuse why this matter was not brought before the National Assembly for consideration and discussion and debate. It is regrettable that at the eleventh hour we are now without an ombudsman. It happened as in the past with the Accountant General’s position. We were without an accountant general for almost two years. It’s reckless, in my view, the way the administration continues to conduct the affairs of this country. The people are not working for them. They work for the people. And I would like to encourage all public officers to continue to act in the best interest of this country, Belize is all we have. And we have to operate within the confines of the law.”