Belize Government Defends LPG Importation Reforms at CCJ

Today marks the first day of a two-day hearing before the Caribbean Court of Justice involving a constitutional dispute from Belize. The appellants—the Controller of Supplies, the Minister of Economic Development, and the Attorney General—are challenging a Court of Appeal decision that found that the Government of Belize had violated the respondents’ constitutional rights to work and property by preventing them from importing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) into the country. The respondents, four privately owned gas companies in Belize, didn’t succeed in their claims of violations of freedom of association and equal treatment, prompting them to file a cross-appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on those grounds. The gas companies involved are Gas Tomza Ltd, Western Gas Company Ltd, Southern Choice Butane Ltd (Zeta Gas), and Belize Western Energy Ltd.

Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay, one of the attorneys representing the government, told the court that the legislation was intended to address critical issues in the sector, including supply insecurity, transfer pricing, product quality concerns, and smuggling.

According to Courtenay, Parliament’s intent was to liberate the LPG sector from the dominance of the Zaragoza Brothers and establish a more stable and regulated system. Evidence presented in affidavits from Financial Secretary Joseph Waight and another outlined the rationale behind the reforms. Courtenay stressed that the government did not act in bad faith or seek to put private gas companies out of business.

The case continues before the CCJ as both sides present their arguments.