Ombudsman opens Belize City office

Even though his office only officially opened today, Ombudsman Paul Rodriguez says he has already received an onslaught of complaints, mostly about land claims and police work. He says so far he has had few problems while conducting his investigations.

Paul Rodriguez, Ombudsman

“Generally good. I think most of the people, all of the people I’ve dealt with have been very cooperative, very respectful and some have even mentioned the word being afraid of the Ombudsman but I don’t think there’s any need to be afraid. Most of our people are trying to do a good job, to walk according to the laws of the land.”

One of the people who will be making a report to the new Ombudsman is Colin Cain, a resident of Burrell Boom. He says he was walking the law of the land but Belize City and Burrell Boom police officers picked him up and took him to the police station where he claims he was beaten.

Colin Cain, alleges police brutality

“These guys just started punching me. They put on the handcuff and tighten it around my hand. I got the red marks on my hand and they just started kicking, punching me, in my head, in my ribs, on my feet and even the black on my shenk — here where the darkness is — that’s the polish on their shoes left right there, right.”

Cain says police have since told him the person whose television set was stolen identified another man as the thief. Anyone who wants to make a complaint to the Ombudsman must write a letter detailing the incident or problem and provide their address and a contact telephone number. The office of the Ombudsman is located at fifty-six Regent Street in Belize City.