Dominican and other OECS BAICO policy holders have until mid-September to join legal action filed at CCJ

Registration for BAICO policy holders in Dominica and across the region who wish to be part of a regional class action suit filed on their behalf at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), will close on September 15, 2021.

The British American Insurance Company Limited (BAICO) and Colonial Life Insurance Company Limited (CLICO) Policy Holders Group, with the acronym BACOL, took the action in “pursuit of fair and equitable compensation” for BAICO policyholders and beneficiaries in seven OECS countries many of whom lost their entire savings when the insurance company collapsed in 2009.

In article which appears in the official newsletter of the British American Insurance Company Limited and CLICO Policyholders Group (BACOL), individual and corporate policyholders are advised to register with a Case Manager.

Persons who have received 14% are also eligible to register and registration is still possible even without the required documentation, the article states.

“CCJ expected to announce hearing soon. The window of opportunity for registration, for policyholders of British American Insurance Company Limited (BAICO) seeking financial justice closes on the 15th of September, 2021. BACOL is encouraging as many eligible policyholders and beneficiaries as possible to sign up with their local Case Managers before the deadline date,” according to BACOL. “Policyholders who have received fourteen cents on the dollar (14%) so far, are also eligible to participate in this legal action. It is worth remembering that BACOL is petitioning the CCJ to award every represented policyholder 100% of their investment, plus interest calculated at 6% over 10 years.”

Policy holders and beneficiaries/survivors of deceased policyholders who have lost their documentation are also encouraged to register with their Case Managers. Their registration will only be approved after verification, a process which may take some time, but which once confirmed, will confer them with eligibility to receive compensation determined by the Court, the Policy Holders Group points out.

In response to inquiries about whether policyholders can pursue legal action themselves, BACOL notes that such policyholders (individuals and corporate entities) would need to undertake a process that has taken BACOL six (6) years and
a considerable amount of financial and other resources to advance to the stage of filing legal action before the CCJ.

“This lawsuit represents the best chance that all policyholders have, of receiving fair and just compensation,” the Group contends.

The Caribbean Court of Justice is expected to make an announcement in the near future, as to when hearings will begin in the legal action filed by BACOL on behalf of policyholders in seven (7) OECS countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica,
Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines).

“To register with BACOL, simply contact the Case Manager where you live, or where your policy was registered,” BACOL advises.

Below is a list of the relevant countries and case managers.

Dominica – Heather Felix-Evans (767) 440-0816 / 6901, Jeffrey Douglas-Murdock – (767) 440-0816 / 6901

Antigua and Barbuda Kalisia Marks T: (268) 562-1705

Grenada – Paula Phillip 1 (473) 405 2226

Montserrat – Kharl Markham (664) 491-2498 / 2848

St. Kitts and Nevis – Larkland Richards, T: (869) 465 3696, (869) 469 4696

St. Lucia – Paula Phillip, 1 (473) 405 2226

St. Vincent and the Grenadines – Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, T: (784) 457-1828; Stephen Huggins, T: (784) 457-1687; Louise Mitchell, T: (784) 453-17