Ombudsman’s report made public
It’s a big name that all too often is long on hope but short on power. The post of Ombudsman is an import from Scandinavia that’s supposed to provide a strong check on institutional arrogance and abuse of power. Today I spoke to Belize’s newly minted ombudsman to see if the job has met his–and our–expectations.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
7 months after the Ombudsman’s office was officially opened to the general public, the Ombudsman of Belize, Paul Rodriguez, has submitted his first annual report. The report covers the period from July 8th, 1999 to March 31st, 2000.
Paul Rodriguez, Ombudsman of Belize
“I have cultivated a deep feeling for the suffering of people and I am very grateful that Belize has given me the chance to fulfill this role of being a kind of public sympathizer, a kind of public confessor to whom people could come to and tell their problems.”
213 formal complaints were lodged. Of this number 134 cases have been investigated and their files closed. 79 files remain open. There were all kinds of complaints brought against the police, all kinds of institutions, including Lands Department, the Department of Corrections, Government of Belize, Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, Fire Service, Lord’s Bank Village Council, Belize Defence Force, Belize Tourism Board and the list goes on.
Paul Rodriquez
“The Ombudsman, the human rights people and the world will not tolerate people being mistreated anymore, their dignity being taken away, people being brutalized.”
Police Brutality is among the important concerns listed in the Ombudsman’s report. Rodriguez wonders at times if there is really a separation between the police’s role to apprehend criminals and the court’s function to punish them. He also criticized the role of the police tribunal.
Paul Rodriguez
“The matter of having tribunal made up of police officers to judge policemen who commit misdemeanors, who brutalize people, I think that is a laugh. Our police tribunal should be made up of lay people, independent people who do not depend on the good graces and favors or anything that an officer or subordinate officers can give to them. They need to be independent people, who when the police is wrong is going to tell them look you are wrong and then recommend the punishment suited for the misdemeanor or the crime.”
One of the most interesting cases that was investigated is the shooting of Clarence Gentle. On December 17th, 1999 Gentle, an inmate at the Hattieville prison was shot in the leg by a prison guard during a disturbance inside the compound. Gentle refused to comply with an order to stop even after the guard fired a warning shot.
Paul Rodriguez
“After finishing the investigation I realized that there is nothing else that the guards could have done. They had been put on interdiction and I had recommended that they be removed and that all their perks and benefits be restored and I think that was a fair judgment that I gave. I liked that because it showed or convinced people in the public services that the Ombudsman has to be fair.”
Although the Office of the Ombudsman has been supported by the Opposition and the Government, interestingly enough, it has not been respected by a number of government departments.
Paul Rodriguez
“I think there is a bit of apprehension. I think that some people think that the Ombudsman by its very nature is against us and that is the farthest thing from the truth. The ombudsman is ombudsman for every citizen of Belize including the ministers and the politicians. The ombudsman has to be fair to everybody and civil servants, public officers who do their work well has no need to fear the Ombudsman, and I’m too small to fear anyway.”
Rodriguez says although he has a tiny staff and other limited resources, somehow the work gets done. He says he and his staff are committed to ensure that the Office of the Ombudsman is truly a haven of democracy.
Paul Rodriquez
“You will see an office that is more humble, more eager to get at the root of people’s problems, an office that will improve its communication with the public sector.”
If you would like a copy of the First annual Ombudsman report you can pick one up from the office at number 56 Regent Street.
