Gov’t ordered to refund T&T beverage company over environmental tax

The government has lost a legal battle with Trini-dadian beverage manufacturer S.M. Jaleel & Company Limited and local Subsidiary Guyana Beverages Inc, which the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) yesterday ordered be reimbursed for the application of an environmental tax that was found to be in breach of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

The CCJ did not, however, specify the amount the government has to repay as it left the aggregate to be quantified by both sides. This has to be done within another month, by which time reports are to be made to the court.

Last year, the companies filed proceedings in the CCJ seeking a refund for payments made under the now-repealed environmental tax.