PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — A high-stakes debt dispute between former business partners took a definitive turn this week as the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) rejected an appeal by Guyana’s Harda Singh, accusing him of attempting to bypass standard legal procedures.
The case stems from a $300,000 commitment Singh made to Ann Narine, his former associate. The promise, originally documented in writing, was challenged in the courts—Singh disputing its legal weight, Narine claiming it as proof of a binding financial obligation.
Though initially described as a promissory note, Guyana’s Acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire reclassified the document as a contract, ruling firmly in Narine’s favour. Singh neither attended the trial nor filed a defence, despite being served.
When the lower court entered judgment, Singh opted not to apply for a reversal. Instead, he pursued multiple layers of appeal—each time rebuffed, culminating in the CCJ’s final word.
The CCJ criticized Singh for trying to sidestep the need to justify his absence, calling his approach a “clear abuse of process.” The court also questioned his transparency throughout the case and ordered him to pay Narine’s legal costs.
The ruling sends a clear message: shortcuts in the legal process will not be tolerated, even at the highest level.
