Belize Has No Ombudsman!

The Office of the Ombudsman was created to serve as Belize’s constitutional watchdog, a place citizens can turn when they believe the state has treated them unfairly. Today, that watchdog post remains vacant.

Established in 1999 under the Ombudsman Act, the office is mandated to investigate complaints of maladministration, abuse of power, corruption, and breaches of the Freedom of Information Act. Under the law, the Ombudsman is appointed for a three-year term and may be reappointed at the end of that period.

Any individual who believes they have suffered injustice at the hands of a public authority may file a complaint. These range from allegations of corruption and abuse of authority to failures in public service delivery.

Former Ombudsman Retired Major Gilbert Swaso described the office as a critical avenue for vulnerable citizens. In a 2023 interview with News 5, he said the Ombudsman exists for people who feel unheard or underserved by public institutions. “We exist for people who suffer injustice, people who are vulnerable, people who are not getting the service they believe they deserve,” Swaso said. “No need to suffer in silence.”

Over the years, ordinary Belizeans have done just that. In August 2025, the Ombudsman launched an investigation into the police shooting of Nyere Parchue to determine whether standards of fairness were followed. In another case, social activist Jerry Enriquez sought a formal review after the Attorney General’s Office denied his request for information on legal fees paid by the government in recent constitutional cases.

“The Ombudsman’s office is there to protect the people of Belize,” Enriquez said. “It is the place we can turn to when we feel the government or the state is abusing its authority.”

However, not all complainants believe the office delivers on that promise. Belize City resident Monique Teck said she filed multiple complaints in 2024 over alleged mistreatment by police but felt her reports were ignored. She said repeated visits to the Ombudsman’s office produced no results.

Such experiences have fuelled criticism in some circles that the Ombudsman is a politically appointed position with limited independence and weak enforcement power.

With the post now unfilled, questions remain about who is currently watching over citizens’ complaints and how long that silence will continue.