CCJ dismisses application by Guyana
Published:Thursday | October 15, 2009 | 9:07 AM
The Caribbean Court of Justice has dismissed Guyana’s application for an extension to comply with an order to implement the Common External Tariff (CET) on cement imports from outside CARICOM.
The CCJ also considered a Contempt of Court application by Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL), and its subsidiary TCL Guyana Incorporated against the Guyana government.
The court has directed that Guyana file its arguments in opposition to TCL’s application within 14 days.
TCL is also required to file its response within seven days of receiving Guyana’s arguments while Guyana is to pay TCL’s cost of filing the application.
On August 20, the CCJ ruled that the Guyana government was in breach of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas by failing to apply CET on cement and ordered the country to reinstate the tariff on cement acquired from non-CARICOM sources.
However, the government failed to meet the deadline, prompting TCL to file an application seeking to have the court find the Guyana government in Contempt of Court.