In a definitive legal ruling on December 11, 2025, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) delivered a decisive victory for businesswoman Beth Clifford and her investment firm, Beltway Investment Group. The regional court overturned a previous judgment from Belize’s Court of Appeal, reinstating the original High Court decision that had cleared both Clifford and her company of liability in a failed 2017 land and construction agreement.
The complex legal dispute originated when LCW Investments contracted with Green Development Partners (GDP) – another entity owned by Clifford – to purchase land and construct a residential property. Under the agreement, all financial transactions were to be processed through Beltway Investment Group. When construction delays prompted LCW to initiate legal proceedings, they named GDP, Clifford personally, and Beltway as defendants.
In its landmark judgment, the CCJ emphatically reaffirmed the fundamental principle of corporate separateness, stating that courts should only disregard the distinct legal identity of a corporation under extraordinary circumstances. The court found no legal justification for the Appeal Court’s decision to ‘pierce the corporate veil’ and hold Clifford and Beltway liable for GDP’s contractual obligations.
The ruling specifically noted the absence of evidence demonstrating that Clifford had abused GDP’s corporate structure or engaged in dishonest conduct. Additionally, the court found no indication of financial misconduct or improper fund handling by Beltway Investment Group.
As a result of this decision, the CCJ restored the original High Court ruling and awarded court costs to Clifford and Beltway, who were represented by Senior Counsel Eamon H. Courtney and Priscilla J. Banner. This ruling establishes significant precedent regarding corporate liability and the protection of legal separation between business entities within the Caribbean jurisdiction.