The Judgments Extension Act Chap 5:02 in Trinidad and Tobago,

which makes provision for the reciprocal enforcement in Trinidad and

Tobago of Judgments of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth

countries, demonstrates the receptiveness of the Government of Trinidad

and Tobago towards enforcing foreign money judgments. The Act

provides a system of registration to facilitate the direct enforcement of

money judgments from the United Kingdom and other specified

Commonwealth countries in Trinidad and Tobago.

 

 

Where the statutory provisions for enforcing a foreign money

judgment are not applicable the local Courts will generally allow the

enforcement of the foreign money judgment where the enforcement of

the foreign judgment complies with the common law principles for the

enforcement. This will be discussed further below.

 

 

 

 

Most attempts to enforce foreign money judgments in Trinidad and

Tobago have not been litigated to the point that written judgments of

the Court were required. However, there is a small body of local case

law in Trinidad and Tobago which provides some authority with regard

to the recognition of foreign judgments in accordance with both the

common law and under the Judgments Extension Act.

 

 

In Medical Air Services Association International Inc. v Bahadur,

Joseph H.C 1280/2011 CV. 2011-01280 the Claimant, a company

based in the United States of America was seeking to enforce in

Trinidad and Tobago, under common law principles, a foreign

judgment of the District Court of Tarrant County, Texas. The
Defendant challenged the enforcement of the foreign judgment on the