Briceño Says Rosado’s Exit Clears “Distraction” from ICJ Case
Ambassador Alexis Rosado stepped down after weeks of public criticism over his role as Belize’s co-agent before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the matter concerning Belize’s territorial dispute with Guatemala.
In an interview today, Prime Minister John Briceño said, “I want to thank him for making the decision… He realised that he was creating a distraction as opposed to be able to continue to do the job to the best of his ability.”
Rosado is currently facing criminal proceedings involving allegations of rape, sexual assault and aggravated assault. He maintains his innocence, stating in his resignation letter than he “looks forward to defending those allegations in court, where they properly belong and where, I am confident, their emptiness will be exposed.”
Among the mounting calls for Rosado’s removal from Belize’s ICJ team was Speaker of the House Valerie Woods. While cabinet minister Henry Charles Usher backed Woods’ position on the matter, PM Briceño said he agreed with some of her points but disagreed with many others.
“Whilst there are some issues that she made that are correct, I don’t think she was correct in many instances. But I want to leave it as is. I don’t want to have a public back and forth,” Briceño said. “That was a decision that she made as an individual, not as a speaker of the house.”
PM Briceño also addressed questions about whether Rosado’s resignation could affect Belize’s case before the ICJ, to which Briceño deferred to the legal team.
Belize’s ICJ proceedings are continuing under Ambassador Assad Shoman, the country’s Agent before the court.