In a judgment delivered on April 28, 2026, the High Court has awarded substantial damages to two men who were unlawfully detained for decades, describing the State’s conduct as a “prolonged and systemic failure” that breached their constitutional right to personal liberty.
In Henry and Noel v Attorney General of Saint Lucia, Justice Alvin Pariagsingh assessed compensation following a ruling by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which had already determined that the claimants’ detention was unlawful.
The Court’s task was confined to quantifying damages on what it termed a “proper basis”.
Anthony Henry, who was detained for approximately 24 years, was awarded EC$1.25 million in compensatory damages, along with EC$100,000 in vindicatory damages. Francis Noel, who spent more than 32 years in detention, received EC$1.5 million in compensatory damages and EC$120,000 in vindicatory damages.
Justice Pariasingh noted at paragraph 6 that, “The duration of detention, approximately 24 years in the case of Mr. Henry and over 32 years in the case of Mr. Noel, is without parallel in this jurisdiction and places this case at the most serious end of the spectrum of constitutional violations.”
The learned High Court judge added in paragraph 78 that the sums awarded reflected the circumstances of the Claimants’ detention.
“In the Court’s view, these figures represent a fair and proportionate measure of compensation, reflecting: the gravity and duration of the constitutional breaches…”
The Court also awarded the State to pay the Claimants’ agreed legal costs within 21 days.