It may be the biggest headline of the week: Belize's most senior career diplomat, Ambassador Alexis Rosado faces a charge of rape and other allegations of sex crimes relating to a complaint of child abuse.

It is a charge that took months to materialize - after the complaint was made late last year. And that long gestation speaks to how seriously the DPP's office is treating the allegation and how thoroughly it was investigated before the directive to press charges went out yesterday morning.

The charges are serious, the effect on the families involved surely devastating, and the professional damage to Rosado's career may be irreparable. But how does it damage Belize's sovereign defense of its case against Guatemala's territorial claim at the International Court of Justice? There are no clear answers on that tonight, but Jules Vasquez looked at the public life of Alexis Rosado, senior diplomat:

When Alexis Rosado appeared at the police station yesterday - he did so with his attorney - Rene Montero Jr - who is also his cousin. They were taken there by a driver from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Though not pictured on camera, the driver is a notable part of the picture because Rosado - escorted here by a police officer - is still an employee of the Ministry. He remains a career foreign service officer who has occupied the most senior posts in the ministry.

He was made CEO in 2008, a job he held for 6 years. After that, he was assigned to Guatemala in August of 2014 - taking over what is considered to be Belize's most important and sensitive diplomatic posting.

Hon. Dean Barrow (July 30, 2014)
"Is very well qualified, not just in terms of academic qualifications but in terms of the sort of personal traits that are going to be required in particular for this assignment. I am satisfied that Alexis is far and away the best person that we would ask to take over in Guatemala City."

After almost 7 years there - the new government reassigned him to the European Union - where he would lead take over the new Foreign Affairs priority - overseeing the critical national effort to lead the research backing up Belize's case at the International Court of Justice.

At the time, Minister Eamon Courtney told us, quote, "Ambassador Rosado's posting to Brussels places him close to The Hague, the seat of the Court... where our legal team is based and where further research is being undertaken as we draft Belize's counter-memorial." End quote. Indeed, Rosado was long noted as a key researcher:

Alexis Rosado (March 28, 2019)
"Those of us at the Belize High Commission in London. myself, Luis Salazar went over 2-3 years at the archives in the UK going through all the old documentation that pertains to this subject and each time we have felt we have found enough, Sir Eli and his team would tell us you need to go some more - dig deeper."

And that seniority resulted in him being named Co-agent of the Belize Government to, quote, "represent Belize officially at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and to monitor and coordinate the work ahead that Belize's team of lawyers and other experts will undertake as Belize takes its case to the ICJ."

The new PUP government confirmed that he still held this position in December of 2020.

But, one year later a report emerged and Rosado stood accused of sexual offenses. After a thorough investigation with the involvement of the Director of Public Prosecution - on Thursday April 20th, she gave the directive for a total of 8 counts: One charge of rape, one charge of sexual assault and 6 of aggravated assault of an indecent nature - all very serious offenses - and indictable matters to be heard at the Supreme Court.

A late evening, terse release from the ministry said, quote, "At the direction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs... Ambassador Rosado has relinquished his diplomatic postings overseas." The wording suggests that he was ordered to relinquish his posts.

Whatever the administrative detail, Belize's most senior diplomat has been brought low within months of Belize having to present its counter-memorial to the ICJ in June - and now we must hope that his confidence in the international system will be vindicated.

Alexis Rosado (April 16, 2018)
"We have relied on the international system for our own security as an independent state, with sovereignty and territorial integrity. We have always depended on the international system to support our cause. We have always maintained that our title to our territory is based on the international legal system that now prevails in the international system."

We note that while Rosado was the co-agent at the ICJ, the lead agent, Ambassador Assad Shoman remains in place as the lead agent, as does Belize's international team, comprising Senior Counsel Sam Wordsworth QC, Dr. Ben Juratowitch QC and Mathias Forteau - among other legal experts and including Hydrographer/Geographer Robin Cleverly.