CCJ reserves judgement in TCL case

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has reserved judgement in the case brought against CARICOM by Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL).



TCL is seeking to have the court quash the decision of the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development and the Secretary General, regarding the suspension of the Common External Tariff, CET on 240,000 metric tonnes of cement imported into Jamaica in 2008.



The Trinidad-incorporated company, with operations in Barbados, Guyana and Jamaica, deems the suspension of the CET, which is applied to goods imported from outside the region, to be irrational, unreasonable and illegal.



Its calling for the CCJ to declare the move null and void.



In addition, TCL is asking the CCJ to issue a restraining order against CARICOM, and to impose a mandatory injunction against the Community to revoke the suspensions and notify those affected.



In his closing submission to the five-member court, TCL lead attorney Claude Denbow argued that his client remained unsure and uncertain about the rules governing the CET that came into effect in 1992.



He said TCL was further baffled as to how the regulators reached their conclusions.