Tonight, the government has again been defeated in court, after another heavy handed attempt at changing sugar industry laws was rejected by the court. The case was brought by ASR/BSI and the COROZAL SUGAR CANE PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION against the Minister Of Agriculture, The Sugar Industry Control Board And The Controller Of Supplies.
It relates to the Sugar Industry (License to Import/ Export Sugar) Regulations 2023 passed in mid May 2023 - which ASR BSI asked the court to declare "unconstitutional, null and void."
Well, High Court Judge Rajiv Goonetilleke agreed and partly allowed the claim, finding that most of the regulations are unconstitutional. These include breaches of the right to work, the right to protection of the law and the right to privacy.
Godfrey Smith and Hector Guerra appeared for BSI and the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association while Douglas Mendez appeared for the government.
