Belize Has Five Years to Appeal C.C.J. Ruling

Belize does, however, have five years to appeal today’s C.C.J. ruling. This can occur at any point if new evidence comes to light. It is hoped this window of opportunity will cause greater monitoring of brown sugar imports in Trinidad and Tobago as well as instill pressure to honor the treaty obligations.

E. Andrew Marshalleck

E. Andrew Marshalleck, S.C., Attorney for Belize

“The thing with the exercise of the original jurisdiction though, and it is a unique feature, at any time up to five years of the judgment, that would be from today, it is open to Belize to apply for the judgment to be revised if new evidence is to come into the possession of Belize showing that the relief sought should be granted. So, what the claim has done is cause greater scrutiny on the importation of sugar into Trinidad, and in an environment of heightened scrutiny it will be far more difficult for those kinds of acts that we complain of to happen again in the future going forward. It will be more difficult to enter Trinidad without the C.E.T. being charged. CARICOM has now established monitoring mechanisms, reporting requirement for it, so there is some level of supervision as to whether or not the charges are being imposed. And, of course there is the possibility of uncovering evidence as to exactly what happened and going back and asking the court to revisit its position. So, I think those two things create positive pressure for the treaty obligations to be met going forward, so that B.S.I. doesn’t experience the kinds of problems it had in the past which gave rise to the claim.”