Ramdeen, Claudette Ann-Marie v Lloyd Augustus Ramdeen

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE OF JAMAICA

IN THE CIVIL DIVISION

SUIT NO. CL. 20041HCV-00553

BETWEEN CLAUDETTE ANN-MARIE RAMDEEN CLAIMANT

AND LLOYD AUGUSTUS RAMDEEN DEFENDANT

Andre Earle and Malcolm Arthurs instructed by Rattray, Patterson & Rattray for claimant

Garth McBean instructed by Garth McBean & Co. for defendant.

Heard: June 29 & 30, and November 16,2005

JONES, J:

[I] A happy marriage needs a bit of give and take. So it was, once, between Lloyd and

Claudette Ramdeen. It seems that the increasing fragility of their marriage has jarred this

harmony. Prior to their marriage, Lloyd Raliideen bought property in their joint names,

which strictly speaking he was not required to do; he also bought property in his own

name. Claudette Ramdeen says that she contributed to some of the property purchased

prior to the marriage. She also says that although she did not make a financial contribution

to other items of property, there was a common intention that she wol.lld have a beneficial

interest. None of this was explicit; did it need to be? There was no prenuptial agreement.

[2] Lloyd Ramdeen feels betrayed, and says so. On his account, it came as a nasty

shock when Claudette Ramdeen filed an action in this court pursuant to the Married

Women's Property Act claiming: