Last Updated on October 17, 2020, 12:13 PM AST by Anthony Morris
The Honourable Wendy Phipps, Minister of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, during a Sitting of the National Assembly on October 15, took the opportunity to update the public on a trade-related claim which has been brought by the Government of Belize against the Government of St Kitts and Nevis recently and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago regarding import of sugar from two non-CARICOM Member States.
She stated that she would have been notified of the matter officially by the Simone Bullen-Thompson, Solicitor General, on October 5.
Minister Phipps said that the Solicitor General would have submitted to her the e-File on that date, the originating application and the notice of service which was sent by the Marshall and Deputy Registrar of the Caribbean Court of Justice.
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.
The period in question is from November 2018 to June of 2020 during which time Belize has alleged that the Federation has imported some 975 metric tons of sugar imports from Guatemala and Honduras free of duty, said the Minister.
The Trade Minister assured the public that on the day that the case was filed, which was brought to her attention by the Solicitor General, which is October 5, she instructed the Director of Trade in the Ministry of International Trade, Shawn Lawrence, to immediately begin an investigation with the Customs and Excise Department in terms of gathering data on all sugar imports over the past three years.
The Minister also assured the public that as Minister with responsibility for International Trade she would continue to provide the people of St Kitts and Nevis with updates on the trade matter as it develops.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
