PETER PAUL DARIUS et al v MARY AMBROISE et al

~ ~ rj: 28 SAINT LUCIA IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE (CIVIL) A.D. 1996 Suit No. 805(b) of 1995 BETWEEN: " PETER PAUL DARIUS AUGUSTIN DARIUS .:'_C-"C ~ -=- can t. s ana M.P.RY AMBROISE FLAVIUS DARIUS :':;:'e s Mr. ~. ~rthur for Appl~cants Mr. J. ~archer for Re s 1996: July 4 and 17 J U D G MEN T MA'l'THEW J. ~:~ C:::::.:nbersi =-st.::cat ~ 8[,.:. ~ ,.-.....- .. '-i.'..... '- '2-e Y::'l ~ :. .s ..,......,;'" e sc:n "N.:O Sect~on 86 of ::r.l.e c~alms any unreglstrable :ntereSC ~nacsoeVer _ana a cautlon with the ~st:2:a:r : ::::r.c--:.aCl:..::a :::e ~'2(:;;~':: ::·a:::..c:rl .;: L Sposlc~ons of - ,::Gncernea. It would appear that act under ~hac orovls~on the ReSO ndents on 9, 1995 ;iled caUClons agalnsc ~our ~arC e _S ~~ ana 3lock /- ,,-.,1""""1 o::J ! f "83 and >ir::..,:::: ~._e _:..;::;:: ____ 3:::::'3 ::ave 1 51B parcels 696, an :'nCereSC. In ::ecember _.:., :995 ::~.e h';PP_ ~ ___ a:-:: s c::::.:-,_::r ,.-::: '~:.e 2:~ 'C~e said Ac~ =~~ed ~ ,;::::~Jmrnon.s ~-2~,':::::>'."e ~'-'-'- - y", :::: " . , app~lcatlon was supporCeO _<- ___ ~~=iY hO .. ~ filed :::::m. _:-,.e same:::a ::"S ::-'.e S'-':::'TC:".S In chelr affidavlc the _lcancs __ al:T e :::sidore ;)ar~us, ana c:-'.:.ac :ne carCe_S · ~ adjudicated upon during the Land Registration and Titling Proj ect in 1984. They allege that the parcels of :and ~ere original:y one oiece o~ property owned by their :acher , :sidore =ari us. They allege that tr.e i.lcere sc of ?assionl se ,::'mbro ise , -"rom whom Mary } ... mbroise claims I ~as sold ::.heir :atr-.er ~ ,. ~" 4-Qr"I ........ c _'-"'- of s a l e dated October 15, 19 60 ; and ::. ~a t ::.heir :::ac he r ob::.ained a 5 s hare of the original pr operty ~ n.:.c~ consisced of ::a. 2::::-es ov a iec laration of the 5uccess.:.e n of ::. he e s::.ace :':A e :.. ~- ~::-~at: g r and ·..::r:c les , Se lice Jean 3apc isc e, .2._i :-nab ~ e --.. 2ar: 3 ac:.:.. s: ::: =<. . ,. \....0. ? l--=-:< J ean Bapciste dated May 24, ~9 7 2. They furt.her allege thac ::.he Responde ncs :cad :ce'ler ce f ore ::. he : l ~ lng of their caution s c ~a ~~ ed an :~~e~esL - ,...... c:::. '-"""'-4 ,_ ", . '-.,. _ O ~ ........... . ;"t t. ache d t. v • ' ,- ~l c..!.. r a ':: :' C:a "\ri : 'Nere severa .!.. e xn .:. .G ':'::' s , .ina more ibics were tendered ac :::--.e :,ear::..ng e n ::. :-:e i r c e r:a_ : '"ar!:ed " A" ::' 0 ItJ" The Respondents f i led an affidavi::. .:.n r esponse on ~c r i l =- 396 and at. t:he heading ,...., '" '-' ~ cha t. af:: i davi::: ::. he y s eugh::. _:--::'~ 8GUCe chree ot.her Respondents. T shall say semec hing abeu::. ::. na e _s e e r on . _n cheir affidavit. chev admi ::. ::.hac ::.~ev ~ ere _ne : ~e ?a r::..:.es ~h o placed the caution on ::.he l and and : ha t: ':. ~e ""l ~ a\j e - --:'::-2Y ::-: St. t:ho se lands as well as ocher lands. They a l:ege that it i s ~ ::.. sle ac::.. ng 3 2" -,~~ ~as s::..~ r: ::" 5e = ~~d ner i n::.erest ::'0 Isidore =ar ::..us and ::. ha t: s ::..cc r e ~ c:a ::..r:e :i :::' :'.5 o f ::he or igina l propercy . They allege that they made a claim ::'0 ::.ne c r ocer::.-; cef ore ::.ne Ad j udicat ors on ,-,ct.ooer =- 3 8 5. \.. Th e Respondents by a chart which was of much assist:an ce to the Court sought to show the famil y t:ree and do not chink the Applicants challenged the accuracy o f i t in any wa y. 3e s ides t heir chart t he Respondents submitt:ed e x hibit:s marKe d ":<:. " a.nd " T II ..J an~ ot hers numbered I to XI I (c ) . ~:" u g n.: n paragraph 7 o f t:he i r af~i d av l e - '-"0 , '- ....... '- y' '3f:.CW now : ney acqui red their interests c...., :he proper: y. .L;.s s taLed earl ier , Mary c2.aims .::.e!." ~::t.e!'"esr.. __ ~ t~: :--.E: r :nother f ?as s ion i se Ambroi se who :iie d Yl:av:::S- f =- ::-6 =- . =_ a~:~ s : a.ri~s :s :.he Drot:her o f Isidore : ar :" 'J. S I co:: ::. : .:-'_e r;: : 3. : ~--:-= ::.-:::':: ~ : : a. r i '.ls ?e l ix who died some e i me Def o re Sept ember :; f =-~·6=-.vr.en .. : S ',>ii ~ : ',<las a dmitted to probate . Dar i u s ?elix was t: he b r o c he r of ?a s sion ise Ambro : se . ~he land ~~6 ~urmer 2. y owned cy 3eesy Yl:arein who c~rcna s ec f r om Aurelien LaCorbiniere on ..June 1 3 f ::" 86 8 r e ca :l.n i ng a. .. su: r'..lcc in it: and t he r emainder t:o her :iv e chl ldren - ~olc : e. ?elix . ~ima blef ~er i l e and S t . Prix . " ~ ~J.. ?elix ? a s sionise and Darius were :he c hil dr e ~ ~::.:C C a ~ -= r:.. t: :. v :he o t her four children of 3et s y did noe produc e a n y s t:: ~:. ~ a . - - - ::: ~ =S ::' 3 cv ~he ~e s po ndents have a.rr l v e a a:::. : .'":e .:: ·...:a~:::::.·...;.~ an a ri thmet i cal c a lcul at: ion. Th e y demonstrate t hat Decause 3 e esy :V~a r:. i n .na d ::: : -,-e ._ .. __ c ren ? e l:x b e c ame eneitled to 1 / 5 share of _ ,......, / - ,-'"\ :::3.rre s. -=-::e :; :: ~-:e ~ ,~~ _s no e accounted for. ~ h e n : hev say ? e .i. :.:{ .---:ad -=~_=-=-c. r en Da rius , Sonson, Pass ioni se and ~osana ea.cn ceca.~e e:::: :. _ed :0 a ::' / 20 share. ..." claim that since Sons on and Rosana died estate Pass ionise were each enriched by an additional :/2 th s Respondents state in ::helr /""'!h-'''''''- _ ...... 0._ ,~ :::r: ;:age .:... "On the death of Sonson ?elix ::he share ~..: ::::arl'..lS, P3.sslonise c~' al.~ ee t and Rosana incre lS deduction baffles ~~ ~=r e_lX'S ,...., ~ --t "V"":::::::" .,..... ...... - -'-"- ...... ~ .. ~ re id ::0 own _ 5 share 23.r::::-es. :::;; ..... C\v 2ne s h ::he share of:: :.~:ree :::;t:l-'.ers .. ave - ..,......, , ....... ,.....{:::::. - c:: -, (""I _ ..... '-' .... '-.-.::::l ...... c ....... ame c:: 3 7/l0 carres. ,-. ... f"'I(""'\"Y"Q -.;:::, "-''-'' ..... ~ :C::;:;:::e ~ow Felix donaeed ::= ~lS sor. . a s righes and ir.tereses an "'vi c:::ne -==-:::2e:r:: .... .:.n carres and seven t:enehs ,--., 1= '-'- _ana. :'hae _s -",ria t: .... ::e ieed Respondents by lr ~aehemat:1cal=al='-..:_ac:..:::;n Hew .. ':ac :JarlUs lix was in face enti::_ed _= ~ore _nan ~ne ..= ..; __ ee::__ ....., ~ ... ctre !~O 8arres and ~he!ef:::;re ca_ance ceL8r.gs ,.1:3 nelrs, sumably Isidore and ?lav:..'-..:s. ~~st:s::: _ n:..se ., , s:..ml_ar aeauct10n :..s ~aae ~r-, .~ y~ - ,'"""(,....,.- ::::::: -~.I.---'-' I .. er a.:.._ ::er lse to ::::sidore ,~; "'-'- ~e s one ~ifteenth share o~ ~ :::;arres ~e .ar.a. entitled to more than one ~i~t:eeneh snare and the ~a:anc cass s t daughter Mary. d ... Respon enes on ::nae .oas1S 8a_8'-..:_ae'2 -.;.at: ac:: ~:, ... e;Tl ::"'8 encic:ed ~o an amounc 8f ~and ~8nca~~~~g ~ ~92 SG~a_ ~~e elna . '" , " ' .oa~ance wnlcn t:nelr ~ cessers ala a_sc:::;s'2 re are certain flaws ::hlS ~ac~emat:l:::;a_ -. ~ ---.,. ~ -.- - _..:::;;._~-....._ct,-_ rs-c because Betsy ~artin's ed~": :363 stat: s -hat: ane c'-..:rchased ~ /::.. J :::;arres ef ::a: -he or _ana lS ~:-... e '2xact amount - ca~cu_at:e co sucn ~aenema~~=a_ ~xac=~_'-..:ae '-- o land which could pass to more c one hundred years afterwards. ~ade _3.:1::1 ~d~,=aLor ~.,.. v'- :3. st:aterrtent: say chis in the :ight ,--', T- v ... ~ .:.'1.? White _L t :986. . his dec~sicn paragraph of the judgmene ~e sa~d: On the ground tpere is approx~~aee~ cwo a:1C _g~c cenc f a carre." ccndly, on page 2 of _he ~e s' _~aYc .~ey rec~ Sanson eh a :/20 share of - orig~:1a: properey. 211:: ~e ::irat: on succession by 8ar Felix f c~e success~on .::: :ler, Ned, who died on Sepe '" a" ~ ~.-I ........... ' f ecoan~z Sanson had di on r ~ :'9l5 _"'"" .. ::escat-e 3.I' .. C i ::':-10Ut: issue and s devo::' -=.con _~.:s :::-ot:-:er' 3.r.lC .::~s seers. ,-- ""'--"~""'-­ ",-" ,.../ ...... ".......---:::t co t Re s I 2!":ar:: _;:; 3ef::::l", - .. ~'-"- \.- ~e r ·N:;.= 8ar Felix and ehe Slseers were ?ass_cn se ~mc_ 's sana C'uste. This explains how :acer deeds .~ 0."'\ .a t _ .. '- '-'" .. :)arius and Pass ionise became -:3~:.:..t:_ I:;' :'"t _~a:;:~e - x Ned was entitled to a _15th share when :~.a t: n~ '-'-'" .... - -;:; ded ch.ree r each would become entit:led t:o __ h. ~he documentary basis for ehe h:'ldren ~f ?el':"x Ned eve e ene:'t_ed to a 1/20th share. :'hirdly, the cal at:'c:::.· s - au __ t: "'/ "iJ r: e ::: sa\/s ::: """"= ... -- -....r"""'rr ...... _ ,-",.l Jare 0- c~e ract 34,383.36 square :ee: ~:::~Y'ect: c:t ... ::j'"-' - .. ~ remal:::.cer is 27,192 square :eee. subtraceion for the ~esconde~-= '~-~0e New ~esana died on se --:,,-5:: 3::--.. 0. 3SS:' ~..-. __ e . ~,.., :::;btained a :;,t:are :las _:lClcat:es :hae so.-.: surv::. 'F:.:::g .. crotner ~nc S~SLerl t" . .. ~: Passionise Ambroise. So it i s possible to say that e ach of them wer e enriched by an additional : / 30th share. Si nce ?assi onise onl y d i s posed of her 1 / 15th share to =sidore i n :96 0 -:::. e c::nica l l y a ::" /3 0th share could be Sale :0 pass _v :.1ary , :.::e :iaughter ofJ. Pa s sionise. ~ :: e :. ne~ ~ r ~o t Of course there could oe an argumen:. :.::::e..ces 'C ?a s s j.onise intended - ,..., _ v convey al l ner - ~o l and to =s i dore on October ::"5 , :96 0. She ~a y ~ot iav e 28ns~d e ~ e d ~r even r e me~be:ed that 25 years bef ore s he obtained ~ al~ ~ ~ ~e~ s iscer 'p i !1t erest. Si mil arl y it could be arguea 'Nhe:.ner o ~ ~r ­ .... -..,..1 "- = a~ ::.. ·.:s ::..:: -:::.enaea :'0 convey all his interest ::..n :.ne land :'0 :sieore ~::e n ne ~aa e :.ne donation on the said O ctobe~ -~ : 96 0 . ? l avi us could not in any case oe ent i :. l ed _ ~ ~ snare a s -~,..., :;t ..;, ... '--l = S :' ::C :;:-E: :::r:.l. ':' Nv ... l d h3.ve t.O be d i vided oe t we en ::-: i m .::3 e l ~ te chnically the most he could be encit_ :' 0 was _ 6J =~ sna r e . So even on the argumenr.s ~ ­ '-' "- ~ . _cu ns e.l.. :. .~.e ~e s ~c :--.. d e !"l::s I =he ~ e s pondents would be e!1r.ir.led :'0 much sma __ e r oo r:::.. ~ns ~ ~ ~ an d than wha r. is calculated on the cnar:s. Sc _-= ana :.he Qui te apart from the interp r e tation ~ _ : ::e :ieee de e d ,..., .;= '-' "- donation ~eferred t o a bove =he ~eal i t v ~ .;= =:-.e s i -:::.·..:ar.i on ::..s =ha t _n the Designation and ~ e sr.::..ng =e ed ~ es cec= :. ne es cace o f ?assionise Ambroise , Y!arv eVlCe !1C_,! =: :' 0 .3e::::- :.. .:: '...:.s _ "/ ~eg a rd : ha r. ner mother owned a!1y oar = : ::.e _3.:-' .. <:': -.vr:. :.:::. s1..:.b j ec: ~ 3. t ter o f this dispute for -:::. ~a ~ ~ a s noc :":-:.cl '..1cie a SC:>2 (11..1 4. e ::'> I the document made on ?ebr 1..:. a~ v 6, : 36 2 . Sale a l i ttle earli e r =na :. ~cu _ ~ say sc~e:. n ::.. n c ~c c~ :. - - : ?a r r.::..es to this case. .;:"mbr olse and Flavius :Jarius . Surely these two Respondenes cannoe add ~ore ~espondenes to this suie of their own accord. Thae ~s ~ot provided ~ c r cy ~ ~der 15 of - yo<=> ~ c"" ; ,.., -n..11 ~ .. '- .- L- _ ...... a )til ~he ~ules of the Supreme Cou r~ and :~e added ?ar~~es way necessary for the disposieion "' - '~ - :rlls :nae ~er. eherefore strike f~om ~~ese proceedi~gs : ~e ::e:..::::-s ::;:..ivicson .:'\mbroise, Agnes .:'\rlai:-i ?nd 3e..:. vi:-,a .;mDr:::~se ::::;L\ma:-,'c.:e:", The ~and Adjudicaeor , ~ ~ .? ~h i: e, a d~~d i ca:ed ~~ c ~ : ~e _~ ~ Q wn :.. c~ i s ~he subject :natter ~~ :~:s iisD~~ e a~ Q ap pe a~ E ~c=c ::::-di~g ~he Ad4udication ~ecord w~ :..= ~ was :e~de~ed e ~: ~e~= e a s ::::xhibit "e " thae after making awa~QS -=:: a. ~~ e s ~-::. se!:~ __ ':' __ -=Xa.:-~~E ':- i ~ =- _ et: Isidore and Alpheus Isidore he gave the ~ e:::::-s _s : .::cr-e ::;ar: us 11 / 15 of the remaining share and the :::cher 4 / :5 :~e = ~2wn. Learned Counsel for the App:"icants -- ..... --r- 'Or"l '::' ___ 0.,- ,-,,--",- :..:-:a t. -l'l [' ... e~_ -:::'2 .::"'Do:i.icarlcs S'JDlTIlet2G their documenes before :::e Land .:" d='..ld i ca~c ::::- , 2rlE:: SUC:1 (l'ocumenr- "'as a a'ecl-r-t'o'" .""..:: sucr-ec::s"o'-' '~y - -' r;c Y';=' -- -r" '- '~a-ed' , I.- 'IV .... d. C1 _ 1 .. '-".:... '-'....., ........... ~ _:= ....:.. ........ ' _ _ .....,' 0 __ --.'::::' -....... L ' ""]c ~ ·...:.:-T'ie ~= , : 972 :"25A No. May 24 I 1972 and registered :::n ~av 98 6 73. :.::::-ee ,"' ''' . .-' ~ the success:..c n Now ~his document relaces :<J ::i1e children of Becsy Marcin, ~ame..:.y: ~olcie Jean Bapcisce ; Aimable Jean Bapciste; a~Q St. Prix Jean Baptiste, - . =_ a =-~.eG ,:..: e ,::: 'N :-:e ~ a On the basis of ""'\-.,-'1 '- ...... 0. '- :: _":e _~ p;::::..:..:: a r::. s thr ee-fifths shar~ ...... ..... c ::-' - ......... !::-' '- - '--" ':: ~ =--~ s :. .::; L. .:... :-:. :::1 " 3. ::'- ::- 2 S . . . , Sr:C L_:!' .2e :3 <:: ·d .. r'"le:-:. _ am ~oe sure why this t~e ~ ~ ~ e e 8 e~s c ~s ::amea above are equally :he :.:,.e ),: ," But t his is the same perenni a l question tha t a r i ses i n thi s Court. The document was executed more than 24 years a go and acted upon by the Land Adj udicator over ten year s ago. The Respondents d i d not cha l lenge it . They did not appeal the :E ind ings o f the Land .f6 Ad j udicator . Af te r the adj udicat :, c n by Mr. Whi ce there s e ems t o :-:ave been anocher issue concern ing the s ame l and . ~ his Clme the d ispuc e was be t ween che Appl i cants and Fi cz Mark concerning a. cot!I1dary .:.ne . The Applicants f a iled be fore the La nd Adjudicacor. It i s interest i ng to note tha t i n cha t d ispu t e conce rning the land which Flaviu s Dariu s now say s he ha s an int e r est , ,-, _ ...... ! ne '>/Jas a wit ness on behal f o f ot her side. He wa s not even a i n the case. This was a r ound 19 86 to 1987 . The dec i s i on ::;; f the Tr i buna l was dated Augus t 19, 198 7. ThLS 9'0 +:=8 t .O c onf irm t he fact thac Flav i us DarlUS s hcweu HO i nt e rest in the l and at the cime o f the adjudica clon 9rocess and . d i d not at any t i me put in a c laim. .J\.t paragraph 6 0 1.. t heir joint af f i davi t the Responden t s s a y the y puc ~ :1 a claLn cn :'c::ober 2.5 I 1 985. An exhibit "L" i n t his respec c refers only t o Ma ry Ambrois e and che document by the Re s pondencs marked "XI" and dace d =2~-::m ce.: _"' . :"989 is cle a rly no evide nce o f a claim made i n October :"38=. The Respondents mus t not only show chac they puc in a c laim. I f t hey d they ought to have f ollowed up - ~ on .,;,..\-. The ~and Ad judicat ion Ac t has de cailed c r ovisicns ensure that the Adjud i cation Reco r d lS p r operly cublished ana t nere are pr ovis ions fo r cor rection and oecit ions to be made . The se provisions a r e to ensure t hac aggrl eved ?art l es nave t heir grievances at tended to. I cannot help but come to t t Responden showed no interest in the land t Titl ?roiec~ . Ambroise did not cons a such nterest as as 1962 when she execut vesting Flavius Darius as late as 1987 never st which was in spute save of a certain boundary line ran. It is also not so clear why on t 19, to Heirs of Isidore Darius 4 15 udicator had vested the Crown when it found it was Delice Jean Baptiste who was relat to Marv se ? Darius. Presumably it was t HeiL~ _~ ~s were the only ones who - ' L. .J..ana. Respondents by their affi it ts re ng t trace their entitlements or sts from as far oack as 1961. is mother, Passionise on May 29, 1961 and the f Felix was admitted to te none other t FI ise on September 23, 1961. In my view and consistent wlth my earlier declslons he Re s sed matters which d before the udication Officers when : rat Jver i es respect of the ~stration of land In Sa Luc a. That was the e purpose the system. are attempting :0 make t:his Court: an

1.c_lbunal over t decisions of the Land Tribunal and _ have oonsiscent_ sald that lS on an not the case. They are attemptlng excursion into histor:Lcal events which they ought to havi wit.h at the 'ropriate tJ.,me. Learned Counse~ :fo~ the- Respondents has submi t ted t hat ..... ~:..,_"v .:.. > Respondent's have filed suit 48 of 1995 against the Applicants . . hav e not seen this case file and in any case I c a nnot he r e adj udicate upon it. The Applicants have raised a question of prescription citing Art icle 2 070 of the Ci.vil Code which may have to be determined upon a p r oper tri al. Ha v ing regard to the submissions and documents presented i n t hese pr oceedings I am not persuaded that the Respondents are entitled to r e t ain t he cautions on the parcels of l and in which the Appl icants hav e an interest and I therefore order tha t they be removed forthwith with costs to t he Applicants to be agreed or t axed.

A. N. J. MATTHEW

Puisne Judge

Suit No. 805 b of 1995 Matthew, j Delivered: 17/07/96