Calls for Alexis Rosado to Step Aside from ICJ Team Mounts
Minister Henry Charles Usher is backing House Speaker Valerie Woods’ call for Alexis Rosado to step aside as Belize’s Co-Agent before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) while he faces criminal charges of rape, sexual assault and aggravated assault.
Rosado resigned his ambassador postings after police charged him in April 2022, but the Government kept him on contract as Co-Agent.
“If stepping aside in 2022 was appropriate to preserve the integrity of Belize’s diplomatic offices when charges were brought against him, the same considerations should apply in relation to his Co-Agent status,” Woods said.
Woods argued in a strongly worded statement over the weekend that retaining Rosado in the high-profile position creates reputational risks for Belize and undermines its commitments to addressing sexual abuse. She maintained that removing him would not jeopardise the country’s territorial case, with written submissions already filed and hearings scheduled for February 2027.
Usher told News 5 he supports Woods’ position and argued that victim support must be considered when decisions are made about cases involving serious allegations.
“These cases tend to be sensationalised, and it does create an undue burden and probably a lot of trauma for the victim,” Usher said. He added that public officers facing ongoing criminal proceedings would be placed on interdiction under the applicable regulations. Although Rosado is not a public officer covered by those rules, the minister said a similar arrangement could be considered.
At the same time, Opposition Leader Tracy Panton called on Rosado to “voluntarily and immediately step aside.” Panton said the Prime Minister has defended keeping him on the case because of his experience and that the Government “must explain how that decision meets the standards of accountability it expects.” She added that Rosado “should not wait for an Administration that has repeatedly failed to demonstrate the moral leadership these circumstances demand.”
Usher also addressed the mounting public questions about whether Rosado’s contribution to the ICJ case made him difficult to replace. While he recognised Rosado’s work, Usher rejected the idea that his continued appointment was essential, stating, “In life nobody is indispensable. We have to be able to make the most when a situation comes up and make sure that there’s somebody else that can do the work.”
Meanwhile, Woods said claims that he is indispensable “seem exaggerated.”
The Belize Network of NGOs (BNN), which represents the NGO community through the 13th Senator, has also joined the call today in a press release. It cited Section 121 of the Constitution, which bars public officials from conduct that would “endanger or diminish respect for, or confidence in, the integrity of the Government.”
BNN said anyone facing serious criminal charges should be temporarily removed from official duties until the courts decide. It said, “This is not about prejudging guilt or innocence.”