Dominican soap company takes legal action against Jamaica

DCP Successors Limited (DCPS), a Dominica-based company, has brought a case against the Jamaican government before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in Trinidad

The company alleges that Jamaica is in violation of the provisions outlined in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, specifically concerning the manufacturing of soap Court proceedings

According to the CCJ, this case marks the first in-person hearing conducted by the court since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

The matter falls under the Court’s Original Jurisdiction, which serves as an international tribunal responsible for interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs CARICOM, the regional integration movement

The impact on regional integration

The CCJ possesses the exclusive authority to adjudicate disputes arising from the interpretation and application of the treaty, which oversees the operation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) The CSME facilitates the free movement of goods, skills, labor, and services across the region DCPS, a company duly incorporated under the laws of

Dominica, specializes in the manufacturing of various soap products They employ the saponification process to produce generic soap noodles that can be further scented and molded

In their case, DCPS argues that the Jamaican government’s exemption of soap manufacturers from paying the Common External Tariff (CET) on imported soap noodles, which do not qualify for community treatment as imported products, constitutes a breach of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas

States government might take against Jamaica as a consequence of the denial of diplomatic immunity to the spouse of one of its diplomats

The ongoing disagreement has the potential to strain relations between the two nations, raising concerns about the future of their diplomatic partnership

Hialeah Abortion Clinic reaches $20,000 settlement over allegations of Florida law violations

An abortion clinic in Miami-Dade County has agreed to pay $20,000 to the state to resolve accusations of non-compliance with a law mandating the provision of information to women at least 24 hours prior to undergoing abortions

Last week, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration filed an order at the state Division of Administrative Hearings, thereby concluding the case against A Woman’s Choice, LLC, a clinic located in Hialeah

Initially, the agency had sought to impose a fine of $32,000

The settlement calls for a $20,000 payment, with the clinic denying accusations that it violated the law

After years of legal disputes regarding its constitutionality, the 24-hour waiting period law came into effect in April 2022

Following a review conducted in May 2022, the agency claimed that A Woman’s Choice had failed to adequately document its compliance with the law

The order filed on Wednesday marks the third settlement in similar cases over the past few weeks, highlighting an ongoing trend