AG Ministry Given 14 Days to Reveal Taxpayer Spending on Court Battles

In a significant development, social activist Jeremy Enriquez has successfully challenged the Attorney General’s (AG) Ministry over its refusal to disclose taxpayer spending on legal fees in recent constitutional cases. Enriquez had filed a Freedom of Information (FOIA) request seeking details on the expenditure and the attorneys involved. The AG’s Ministry initially denied the request, citing potential risks to the Government of Belize and concerns over compromising ongoing cases. Unwilling to accept this response, Enriquez escalated the matter to the Ombudsman, who ruled in his favor. The Ombudsman determined that the AG’s Ministry had violated the FOIA by withholding the information and mandated the release of the requested data within 14 days. Enriquez expressed optimism that the Ministry would comply but warned of potential legal action if the deadline is not met. This case underscores ongoing tensions between government transparency and public accountability in Belize.