Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 16, 2020 (SKNIS)
During a Sitting of the National Assembly on October 15, Minister of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Honourable Wendy Phipps, took the opportunity to update the public on a trade-related claim that has recently been brought by the Government of Belize against the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago regarding imports of sugar from two non-CARICOM Member States.
Minister Phipps stated that she would have been officially notified of the matter by the Solicitor General, Simone Bullen-Thompson, on October 5. She said that the Solicitor General would have submitted to her on that date the e-File, the originating application as well as the notice of service that was sent by the Deputy Registrar and Marshall of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
“I should also note that the claim had been filed at the CCJ on the 30th of September, 2020, by the State of Belize,” she said. “The intention is to commence proceedings against the two countries stated, which are St. Kitts and Nevis as well as Trinidad and Tobago pursuant to 1. Articles 2 11 Subsection 1 Part A, Article 2 13, and 2 16 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and Article 12 A and B and Article 16 of the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice and Part 10 of the Caribbean Court of Justice Originating Jurisdiction Rules 2019.”
The Minister said that Belize is essentially accusing St. Kitts and Nevis along with Trinidad and Tobago of importing sugar from Guatemala and Honduras without application of the Common External Tariff on these goods.
“In other words, the State of Belize alleges that St. Kitts and Nevis has allowed these imports from Guatemala and Honduras to occur without the necessary taxes being paid as