Bacol files legal action at the CCJ to compensate British American policyholders

British American Insurance Company Limited and Colonial Life Insurance Company Limited Policy Holders Group (‘BACOL’) on 13^th July, 2021 took the first step at the Caribbean Court of Justice (‘CCJ’) to pursue equitable compensation for policyholders of British American Insurance Company Limited from various OECS territories.

This is the latest step on a long journey after it emerged that British American Policyholders in the OECS would not be offered compensation on par with that awarded to British American Policyholders from other CARICOM nations, following the 2009 collapse of the insurance company.

Since its formation, BACOL has held consultations with aggrieved British American Policyholders throughout the OECS to apprise them of their rights and to invite them to become members of BACOL, with a view to obtaining fair compensation. As it stands, the only offer of compensation has been by the appointed judicial managers in the OECS, an offer of 30 cents on every dollar of policyholders’ investment. Unsatisfied by discriminatory treatment between the comparable British American Policyholders, BACOL, on behalf of its members, has caused the jurisdiction of the CCJ to be invoked, with a view to receiving full compensation on par with that awarded to British American Policyholders from other CARICOM nations.

The proceedings at the CCJ illustrates that BACOL is acting as coordinator for BAICO Policyholders across the OECS, has undertaken work which will lead to a claim being filed on behalf of aggrieved British American Policyholders. Registration of Policyholders who wish to participate is already underway through a network of Case Managers located in every anticipated participating country.

Next Actions

1. BACOL will hold a series of town hall meetings to apprise Policyholders of the lawsuit and answer questions, as per the schedule below:

• Grenada – July 27^th, 2021, 6:30 p.m.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81067430477?pwd=WTZMbnNtcFNPRmNyTUxLM2VRU2x6dz09

Meeting ID: 810 6743 0477
Passcode: 56628

• Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica–July 28^th, 2021, 6:30 p.m.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88618532438?pwd=WHVtZHFXK1pQdnB4N21EVnJjcEZxQT09

Meeting ID: 886 1853 2438
Passcode: 381583

• Antigua and Barbuda, St. Lucia, Montserrat–July 29^th, 2021

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86225878460?pwd=RHBYZ3ZtR2RrTTQ0bmVXcCtQLzRNUT09

Meeting ID: 862 2587 8460
Passcode: 110568

• United Kingdom and the Diaspora – July 30^th, 2021

Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83353272119?pwd=T2RYajhHKzlhUDRhelQ1TXlqYk9LZz09

Meeting ID: 833 5327 2119
Passcode: 875007

Case Managers

The following Case Managers are authorised to register aggrieved policyholders of British American Insurance Company Limited to participate in this legal action before the CCJ:

Antigua and Barbuda  Stacy Roach-Richards Richards & Company Victoria Chambers The Colony House 41 Nevis Street St. John’s Antigua Antigua & Barbuda Tel: 1 (268) 562-1705 Email: kmarks@antigualaw.com sroach@antigualaw.com	Dominica  Heather Felix-Evans/ Jeffrey Douglas-Murdock Optimum Legal Attorneys-at-Law & Notaries Public VeRu’s House 54 Hillsborough Street P.O. Box 1595 Roseau Dominica Tel: 1 (767) 440-0816 / 6901 E-mail: felixevans@optimumlegal.dm attorney.@optimumlegal.dm
Grenada Paula Phillip #7 Lucas Street PO Box 1091 St George Grenada Tel: 1 (473) 405-2226 Email: admin@bacol.info	Montserrat Kharl Markham P.O. Box 1 100 Banks Estate Banks Montserrat Tel: 1 (664) 491-2498 / 2848 Email: kmarkham@allenmarkham.com
St. Kitts and Nevis  Larkland Richards Larkland M. Richards & Associates   St. Kitts Unit C15 The Sands Complex George Street, Basseterre, St. Kitts Tel: 1 (869) 465 3696 Email: lmrichards@sisterisles.kn   Nevis Box 807 Main Street, Charlestown, Nevis Tel: 1 (869) 469 4696	St. Lucia Dr. Kenny Anthony Anthony and Antoine Chambers Maurice Mason Avenue Sans Souci Castries St. Lucia Tel: 1 (758) 285-2263 / (758) 518-1000 Email: aachambersslu@gmail.com
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Kay Bacchus-Baptiste White Chapel Kingstown Tel: (784) 457-1828 / (784) 528-8903 E-mail: kayrab2121@gmail.com Stephen Huggins Corner Middle & Bonadie Streets Kingstown Tel: (784) 457-1687 E-mail: saunders.huggins@gmail.com	Louise Mitchell LMJ Chambers Upstairs BDO (Opposite Church of Christ) Kingstown Park Kingstown St Vincent and The Grenadines Tel: (784) 453-1722/(784) 494-1001 E-mail: mitchelljosephchambers@gmail.com

BACOL