Established nine years ago, Saint Lucia’s Commercial Court is efficiently facilitating the resolution of business disputes, having managed EC$49 million in claims in 2024.
The court’s dedication to efficient and timely adjudication is greatly improving the country’s ease of doing business and competitiveness, with intentions to broaden its mandate beyond commercial cases.
The Commercial Division of the High Court was inaugurated on January 20, 2016, signifying the establishment of a specialised division aimed at resolving commercial disputes with accuracy and effectiveness.
The main objective is to establish an efficient judicial process for addressing business disputes while guaranteeing fairness, transparency, and prompt resolution of commercial cases.
Daniel Francis, the Registrar of the High Court, highlights the vital role that the Commercial Court plays in the judicial system and its importance to the public.
“In terms of value, we have seen approximately $49 million in ‘Values of Claim’ pass through the commercial court in 2024, and we fully expect this figure to grow,” asserted Francis.
The main roles of the Commercial Court are: – Settling business disputes – Facilitating efficient case management – Safeguarding business interests – Promoting economic growth – Upholding commercial laws
Francis observes that, throughout the years, the Commercial Court has broadened its scope beyond just ‘district commercial’ issues, contributing positively to the Civil Courts in their general civil practices and procedures.
The National Productivity and Competitiveness Council (NCPC) was instrumental in the establishment of the Court, which received funding from Compete Caribbean in partnership with the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and the government of Saint Lucia.
NCPC Director Lisa Florent-Montoute emphasises that the council will persist in evaluating the effectiveness of this initiative, which is vital for boosting Saint Lucia’s competitiveness and advancing its ‘ease of doing business’ ranking.
“This initiative is demonstrating success, as successive governments remain dedicated to establishing a more efficient Swift Justice System for our litigation processes,” she stated.
Florent-Montoute emphasises that historically, the court process tended to be slow and cumbersome. “It has been crucial to distinguish between commercial cases and civil cases to ensure they are handled more efficiently,” she emphasised.
She mentioned the notable advancements in competitiveness and the improvement of the business environment in Saint Lucia.
The registrar expects that, given the Court’s continued success, its responsibilities will naturally expand beyond merely addressing commercial cases.