Ex-Ombudsman Sues Government Over Constitutional Breach

A legal showdown is brewing between a former watchdog and the government he once served. Former Ombudsman Major Gilbert Swaso is heading to court, accusing the Briceño administration of crossing constitutional lines and meddling in the independent work of his office. In a newly filed claim, Swaso alleges the government ignored key constitutional protections tied to the Ombudsman’s role and questions the handling of his tenure, including the decision not to renew his contract. At the center of the dispute is a controversial Freedom of Information case involving the disclosure of public funds for legal fees, triggered by a request from activist Jeremy Enriquez. Swaso suggests that decision may have strained relations with the administration, setting the stage for the legal battle now ahead in mid-July.

 

(Ret Major) Gilbert Swazo, Former Ombudsman

“I am of the view, and certainly I don’t want to try the case before it goes to the court in any way or form, that ruling I made may have caused some issues within the government. But, when you look at that case, that case the FOIA, the act in itself is there for accountability and when citizens are denied of their constitutional right and remember also that the government of Belize is working for and on behalf of the people of Belize who placed them in office to govern for and on behalf and if it is you will utilize the finances of the government, the country, the people and you don’t want to disclose that, is not that a violation of the law in and by itself and is that not a violation of the oath you took as a representative of the government?”

 

Swaso says the case is not only about him, but about protecting the independence and integrity of a key constitutional office.

 

Swaso Fires Back After PM Briceno’s National Assembly Accusations

 

Last week in the National Assembly, Prime Minister John Briceño pointed to “complexities” behind the position remaining vacant for six months and took aim at former Ombudsman Gilbert Swaso, accusing him of signing onto an agreement without fully considering its implications, one that could transform the office into a human rights body. Today, Swaso is responding, stepping forward to set the record straight.

 

(Ret Major) Gilbert Swazo, Former Ombudsman

“Let me state then, for the record, in 2023, the Government of Belize, at a meeting at the Untied Nations declared that Belize will establish a national human rights institute. And that human rights, national human rights institute will be lodged in the Office of the Ombudsman. Those are not my words. That is also within the Ombudsman Report of 2023, it is also an update in the Ombudsman Report 2024. The Ombudsman and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs co-chaired a nation human rights committee, and a lawyer from the AG office is also a member from that committee. So where is the complication? It is not like the institute will assume the office of the Ombudsman. It is that the NHRI will be established and integrated into the office, where is the complexity of that?”

 

The United Democratic Party is now calling out the Briceno Administration for leaving the post vacant. In a strongly worded release, the opposition referred to it as not merely an administrative oversight, but a failure of constitutional governance. The release demanded that PM Briceno provide an explanation for the extended vacancy. 

 

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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