Delroy Howell (Appellant) v RBC Royal Bank (Jamaica) Limited and another (Respondents) (Jamaica)

Case summary

Case ID

JCPC/2026/0051

Jurisdiction

Jamaica

Parties

Appellant(s)

Delroy Howell

Respondent(s)

RBC ROYAL BANK (JAMAICA) LIMITED (formerly RBTT BANK (JAMAICA) LTD), RBC Royal Bank (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited (formerly RBTT Bank Ltd)

Issue

Should the appellant have been granted permission to appeal against the judge’s refusal to admit his amended defence which was four months late?

Facts

This appeal arises out of the refusal of a procedural application to extend time for the filing of an amended defence. The underlying proceedings were brought in 2012 by the respondents (the “Lender Banks”) against the appellant, Mr Howell, for the recovery of US$33,146,867.79. The sum was the amount outstanding plus interest arising from a loan to a company of which Mr Howell had been a director. Mr Howell had executed a deed of guarantee and indemnity in respect of the loan. During the proceedings, in October 2024, the Lender Banks were granted permission to file an amendment to their statement of case. Mr Howell was ordered to file an amended defence in response within seven days. His amended defence was filed four months late, in March 2025, accompanied with an extension of time to remedy the failure to meet the deadline. The judge refused Mr Howell’s application for an extension of time, the result of which is that the proceedings will continue without his response to the Lender Banks’ amendments. The Court of Appeal refused Mr Howell’s application for permission to appeal against that decision. Mr Howell now appeals to His Majesty in Council. He also seeks stay of the court proceedings, which include a request by the Lender Banks for Summary Judgment against him, pending this appeal.

Date of issue

22 June 2026

Case origin

PTA

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