CCJ Clears Beth Clifford in High-Profile Land Deal Dispute

The Caribbean Court of Justice has overturned a ruling of Belize’s Court of Appeal and has reinstated the High Court judgement in favour of businesswoman Beth Clifford and Beltway Investment Group. The CCJ held that the Court of Appeal had no legal basis to pierce the corporate veil or to hold Clifford and Beltway liable for a 2017 land and construction deal that failed.

The dispute began when LCW Investments entered a contract with Green Development Partners (GDP) to buy land and build a house. The agreement required all payments to be sent to Beltway. Clifford owned both companies. Construction delays led LCW to sue GDP, Clifford, and Beltway. The High Court ruled that only GDP had breached the contract. The Court of Appeal later reversed that decision and found all three jointly liable.

On Wednesday, the CCJ said a company has its own legal identity and that courts should disregard that separation only in exceptional situations. According to the judgement, there was no evidence that Ms Clifford abused GDP’s corporate structure or acted dishonestly. It also found no misuse of funds by Beltway.

The CCJ restored the High Court’s ruling and awarded court costs to Clifford and Beltway, who were represented by Senior Counsel Eamon H. Courtney and Priscilla J. Banner.