A High Court judge in Belize has ordered former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, SC, to pay half of the Attorney General’s costs in an injunction application that sought to halt the country’s upcoming March 12 general election.
Justice Tawanda Hondora issued the wasted costs order on March 6, citing concerns over possible improper conduct related to the use of digital signatures on court documents. This follows the Caribbean Court of Justice's (CCJ) dismissal on March 4 of an application to expedite an appeal against the judge’s earlier ruling. The CCJ found that the appeal lacked merit.
The case originated from an application filed by three claimants, represented by Ramlogan, to delay the elections. However, Justice Hondora denied the injunction on February 12, raising concerns about the handling of affidavits, exhibits, and the apparent use of superimposed digital signatures.
In response, Ramlogan was ordered to provide detailed explanations regarding his role in the preparation and submission of legal documents, his association with the Belize-based law firm Estevan Perera and Company LLP, and whether he had a formal legal practice in the country.
Ramlogan admitted he does not operate a permanent office in Belize and was using the Perera firm’s address for legal correspondence. He provided his answers to the judge’s questions on February 20.
However, the judge criticised Ramlogan’s explanations as “evasive” and found there was a prima facie case of abuse of court process.
“In this matter, I have not been given reasons to conclude anything other than that there is a prima facie case that there has been an abuse of this court’s legal process.”
Justice Hondora highlighted irregularities in the affidavits submitted, particularly the unexplained use of digitally superimposed signatures on critical legal documents. The court also questioned why Ramlogan had not disclosed details about his arrangements with local counsel earlier in the proceedings.
The judge further ruled that if the claimants wish to continue with Ramlogan as their attorney, he must work with a corresponding Belizean law firm and provide the court with the name and contact details of a local attorney responsible for the matter.
In his ruling, Justice Hondora also noted, “It is Mr Ramlogan SC’s omissions and negligence that resulted in the unnecessary and unsuccessful interim applications filed, which were based on fatally defective affidavits, and which caused the defendants to incur unnecessary litigation costs.
“Had the three applications been dismissed solely on the merits, it is highly unlikely that any adverse costs order would have been made considering the general rules on costs in constitutional matters.”
A wasted costs order is issued when a court determines that an attorney's conduct has resulted in unnecessary expenses for the opposing party. While such orders are not made lightly, Justice Hondora found that Ramlogan’s handling of the case warranted financial consequences.
The judge also reminded that attorneys pra
