Ombudsman’s FOIA Directive Awaits Response

One week after the Office of the Ombudsman directed the Attorney General to comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and release details on government contracts with private attorneys, there has been no official update on the matter, according to civic activist Jeremy Enriquez.

Enriquez told The Reporter on Wednesday, October 23, that the Ombudsman’s Office has not yet provided any indication of progress since issuing the directive on October 15. While he cannot confirm whether the Attorney General’s Chambers has responded, the absence of communication from the Ombudsman implies that no update has been received. He noted, however, that the two-week period granted to the Attorney General for compliance has not yet expired.

The directive followed a formal review by the Ombudsman under Sections 35, 37, and 39 of the FOIA, after Enriquez challenged the Attorney General’s September refusal to disclose information on payments made to private attorneys retained by the Government of Belize. The Ombudsman’s findings determined that the requested contracts could not lawfully be withheld in full, since they involve the use of public funds and therefore constitute public records.

The review further emphasized that ministries may redact only those sections of documents that qualify under Section 28(1) of the FOIA as exempt, but cannot apply blanket secrecy to financial information of public interest. The Ombudsman consequently directed that the names of attorneys or law firms engaged by the government, as well as the total amounts paid to each, be disclosed, while protecting legitimately confidential portions.

The case has become a test of Belize’s transparency framework, as it places the government’s chief legal adviser under scrutiny for adherence to the very statute that upholds the rule of law. The Ombudsman’s decision underscored that the FOIA is not a discretionary policy but a statutory obligation ensuring that public expenditures are subject to accountability.

With one week remaining before the compliance deadline ends, the matter now hinges on whether the Attorney General’s Chambers will act within the prescribed timeframe. If no action is taken, Section 39 of the FOIA grants the applicant the right to seek judicial review before the Supreme Court—a step that could elevate the dispute into a landmark case for institutional transparency.

For now, Enriquez remains cautiously observant. The absence of an update suggests that the process is still pending; however, time remains for the Attorney General to respond before the Ombudsman’s deadline expires next week.