Ombudsman says he will be impartial

In keeping with its manifesto promise to appoint an Ombudsman to investigate cases of alleged abuses of power by the government or government departments and ministries, at the last sitting of the House of Representatives the choice for the job was announced. Paul Rodriguez, one of the founding members of the U.D.P. and a former Mayor of Belize City was selected for the post. However, because Rodriguez was a vocal supporter of the P.U.P. prior to the election and personally endorsed Said Musa in campaign advertisements, his detractors say he is incapable of impartiality. Rodriguez, who was a guest on “One on One” last night told host Dickie Bradley that the public can have every confidence that he will do whatever is necessary to make sure people’s rights are not being violated, even if the violators are members of the government or ruling party. He also outlined how he plans to deal with complaints and right wrongs.

Paul Rodriguez, Ombudsman

“My vision of this post goes something like this; these are some of the outlines. People in general are not interested in punishing people for the wrong that they’ve done. What people want are results. If an Ombudsman can get for them respect for their rights and recognition of their rights and redress for whatever wrongs they have been done quietly and easily, that is what people want. People want results. They are not interested in seeing me or any Ombudsman pursue a career of crusades, I don’t think. Now and again I guess the Ombudsman may have to be a crusader where there is a flagrant violation of a person, or peoples’ rights. I think then the Ombudsman should have to be a crusader. With an enlightened government I don’t think that that will be necessary.”

Rodriguez says he hopes to open his Belize City office soon and all complaints being investigated will be a matter of public record. He will also be required to make periodic reports to the House of Representatives.