Belize partially waives Kennedy Carrillo’s diplomatic immunity in Canada

The Government of Belize has agreed to partially waive Kennedy Carrillo’s diplomatic immunity so Canadian police can investigate an alleged domestic dispute involving the senior diplomat.  Carrillo is Belize’s representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization, or ICAO, in Montreal. Reports are that she was detained and questioned by Canadian police for roughly seven hours on Tuesday after being identified as the alleged aggressor in a domestic incident. The full circumstances have not yet been made public.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it received a report from Carrillo yesterday. Shortly afterwards, the Canadian Embassy in Guatemala sent a diplomatic request asking Belize to consider a limited waiver of her immunity.  After reviewing the request and the information provided, Belize agreed. That decision was formally communicated to Canada through a diplomatic note.  The waiver is limited, meaning it applies specifically to the investigation and is not a complete removal of Carrillo’s diplomatic protections.  The Ministry says it also carried out checks to ensure that everyone involved was safe. It has pledged to cooperate fully with Canadian authorities and reiterated the Government’s zero-tolerance position on gender-based violence.  Carrillo previously served as Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of the Blue Economy and Civil Aviation. She was appointed Belize’s Permanent Representative to ICAO in September 2025, following Belize’s historic election to the organisation’s thirty-six-member council.  The Government has not announced whether Carrillo will remain in the post while the investigation continues. It can recall her and appoint another qualified representative without Belize losing its seat on the ICAO Council.