You ever notice how borrowing money in the Caribbean does mash up more friendships than politics? It always starts the same way, somebody comes sweet-talking you:
“Boss man, just len me a lil’ $500, ah go pay you back monthend, promise.”And three months later? The only thing you’re spotting is stress and an enemy.
Because here’s the sad part — the minute you ask for your money back, suddenly you are the villain. They ducking you in town, dodging your calls, and next thing you hear, you “bad minded” just for wanting back what’s yours.
That’s why I always say: when it comes to lending money, love alone cyan’t keep the peace. You got to write it down.
Why a handshake won’t cut it
In Antigua, and across the Caribbean really, we put a lot of trust in “man-to-man” deals. A handshake, a promise, and that’s supposed to seal it. But the law? The law don’t deal in me know she since primary school.
Yes, under the laws of Antigua and Barbuda, an oral contract can hold up. But let me ask you this — when push comes to shove, how are you going to prove in court that the agreement was for $1,000 and not $500? Or that it was supposed to be monthly payments, not “when I catch myself”?
Without something written, it turns into a soap opera: “he say, she say,” witnesses, confusion, tempers… and trust me, judges don’t have patience for that kinda bacchanal.
We love to trust, but trust needs backup
Let me tell you straight: plenty friendships in the Caribbean mash up because people mix money with trust but leave out paperwork. As the song go, “trust and no pay”.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard stories like:
- The uncle who “forget” to repay after fixing his car.
- The friend who swear the loan was a “gift.”
- Or the neighbor who start avoiding you like you’re a debt collector.
It sounds funny when you’re telling it, but when you’re the one short of cash, its not funny at all.
And that’s why, before anybody borrows one red cent from me, I just say: “Cool, but leh we write it down.”
Keep it simple, keep it stress-free
You don’t need a 20-page legal book. What you need is a straightforward, legally sound loan agreement. That’s exactly what we built at Dadli Legal.
Our Simple Loan Agreement is made for real Caribbean life:
- The $200 you lend your sister for school books.
- The $1,500 you lend a friend to fix their car.
- The $3,000 that go into a lil’ startup business.
Big or small, the paper protect both sides. You keep your peace of mind, they keep their dignity, and the friendship stays intact.
Final word of advice
So next time somebody come to you, hat in hand, asking for a lil’ spot, don’t just nod and shake. Smile and say, “No problem, but leh we write um down.”
Author: tyjjl
