Former Ombudsman Major Gilbert Swaso is pressing for answers in the case involving nine Haitian minors brought to Belize in 2023, filing a Freedom of Information Act request to determine what progress, if any, has been made since his departure from office. The request comes as the Ministry of Immigration joins the investigation into allegations surrounding the children’s immigration status, guardianship arrangements, refugee and welfare protections, and possible human trafficking concerns allegedly linked to the Beauty Out of Ashes organization. Swaso says key government agencies gave little cooperation when he began probing the matter. With the Ombudsman’s post vacant since December 2025, he says Belizeans deserve answers on whether the investigation has moved forward and what is being done to protect the children.
Gilbert Swaso
Major Gilbert Swaso (Ret’d), Former Ombudsman
“ There was a complaint that was made to the government of Belize, and apparently there was no action taken for two years So the international organization felt compelled to ensure that there was some closure to this case. So they brought it to the next best institution which they believe could have done something about it, the Office of the Ombudsman. So after two years, now when we got that, I believe it was in June, we started to investigate the case, and we saw at that time where information and responses was very difficult to come by because of, again, the same issue that we were talking about, fear of any likely reprisal or losing jobs. So while we were getting information here and there, it was very difficult. Remember, it was two years nothing ever came out, and within that space of time we made some progress. Why? Because it’s an independent office doing an investigation that was well within the realm of the, the Ombudsman Act Again, we spoke about some gaps. So when we start finding that there, there is an appearance of willful or apparent neglect to respond, then the next here step would have been to ensure then that these people were summoned to, by law, so that then they are compelled to answer, or if not, they’ll be held in contempt.”
The FOIA request seeking answers about the case’s status was emailed on Tuesday and hand-delivering it on Wednesday.
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.
Watch the full newscast here:
