Barbados Ombudsman Visits Belize to Study Preparations for National Human Rights Institute

The Ombudsman of Barbados, Dr. Nigel Taylor, concluded a working visit to Belize today, where he worked alongside Ombudsman Retired Major Herman Gilbert Swazo. The visit was to get a better understanding of the preparatory work Belize has put in for the establishment of a National Human Rights Institute (NHRI). Ombudsman Swazo explained that, when established, Belize’s NHRI will be a one-stop-shop for persons seeking redress for human rights violations. Swazo says that the visit will help to expedite the process of Barbados establishing their NHRI.

Herman Gilbert Swazo, Ombudsman of Belize: “This visit since we have started and we are fully in the process on that journey to establish our Human Rights Institute. So the visit is to look at what successes, what strategies we are implementing to establish our National Human Rights Institute and to see how best they can utilize what best practices we have learned so far so that they do not necessarily have to reinvent the wheel. So moving forward this together we can now also better strategize and say what do you think of this idea? Share ideas so that then when we establish our National Human Rights Institute,  because it will also have to be in consultation with the general public, we’ll also have to have a continued consultation with all the relevant stakeholders who are at this moment dealing with any human rights issues so that then when the legal framework, when the organization is framed, that it’s a buy-in from everyone and this is exactly what is it that we want to achieve.”

At a press conference held at the close of his visit, Dr. Taylor commended Belize’s level of progress, noting that most of the groundwork has already been completed. 

Dr. Nigel Taylor, Ombudsman of Barbados: “What we have seen so far strikes volumes of analysis, volumes of preparation. In fact, you guys are already about 90 percent way in advance of where you are or where you should be. So that part is the beauty part about it. So yes, for us being here, just the first day alone, I mean the analysis, the procedural patterns, all that you guys have done here, all that the office has done here with the support of the Ombudsman staff, with the support of government, with the support of the UN, it has been fantastic. You guys have a working formula. And the other thing too is we are hoping to engender the support of other Caribbean countries to understand that because technically if persons are going to complain for human rights and the violation of civil liberties, you have to have systems and places to deal with it.”

Dr. Taylor was joined on the visit by his investigating officer Dr. Michael Sabazan. They are scheduled to leave the country today.