Tate & Lyle Loses Appeal as Belize Sugar Farmers Push High-Stakes Case Forward

The Court of Appeal of Belize has dismissed an appeal brought by Tate and Lyle Sugars Limited against the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association in the long-standing dispute involving millions of dollars in Fairtrade sugar premiums. This is the very case that the Government of Belize reportedly pressured the association to settle back in March, while offering a million-dollar fertilizer package. The appeal arose after Tate and Lyle challenged a July 2025 High Court ruling that allowed the BSCFA to proceed to trial.  At the outset of the hearing, the court also overruled an objection from the BSCFA to the participation of Belize Sugar Industries Limited, allowing it to make submissions as an interested party. Tate and Lyle argued that the claim should be struck out, insisting the Belize courts lacked jurisdiction and that any dispute should have been resolved through arbitration under an expired agreement. However, the Court of Appeal found that the lower court judge properly determined that there was a real issue to be tried between the parties, despite the absence of a current contract. Additionally, the court held that the BSCFA had established sufficient grounds to pursue claims based on conspiracy and constructive trust, allowing the matter to proceed.  In its decision, the panel concluded that the High Court did not err in refusing to set aside service of the claim or in declining to strike it out. As a result, the appeal was dismissed, costs were awarded to the BSCFA, and the stay on the proceedings was lifted, clearing the way for the case to move forward to trial.  Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay rand Illiana Swift represented Tate and Lyle Sugars Limited, while Senior Counsel Magali Marin Young and Allister Jenkins represented the association. Hector Guerra and Edgar Lord represented BSI.

 

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