PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has thrown out an appeal by Guyanese businessman Harda Singh, leaving untouched a High Court judgment that orders him to pay US$300,000 to his former partner, Ann Narine.
The dispute stems from a written promise Singh gave Narine in Guyana. Although Singh labelled the document a promissory note, Acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire ruled it was instead evidence of a binding contract and awarded Narine the full amount.
Singh never filed a defence or appeared at trial despite being properly served overseas. Rather than applying to set aside the judgment, he went straight to the Full Court and then the Court of Appeal—both of which upheld the original ruling.
At the CCJ, the region’s highest court said Singh was attempting to bypass the requirement to justify his absence—a misuse of the court process. Finding no merit in his arguments, the CCJ dismissed the appeal and ordered Singh to cover Narine’s legal costs.
