Guadeloupe Lawyers Vote on €24M Loss & Governance Issues

Guadeloupe’s bar association is bracing for a contentious general assembly this afternoon, convened to address a deepening financial crisis at the Caisse Autonome des Règlements Pécuniaires (CARPA), the autonomous fund for attorney payments. The assembly will observe the 266 members of the bar vote on seven resolutions concerning the future of the organization, which is currently grappling with significant losses stemming from high-risk investments and allegations of financial misconduct.

According to documents presented to the bar, CARPA has provisioned nearly 8 million euros for the 2024 financial year due to losses on 24 million euros invested in high-risk bond loans prior to January 1, 2025. This has resulted in a projected deficit of 6.3 million euros for the fund. A key resolution calls for determining the responsibility of individuals involved in these investment decisions, specifically targeting former presidents and board members, as well as potentially the accountants and auditors who oversaw the fund.

Further complicating matters, a third resolution details alleged financial irregularities, including improperly paid bonuses to the former CARPA director, inflated invoices from a company named Art Line and unauthorized financial withdrawals made by the same director. The director was terminated in November and is currently facing disciplinary proceedings.

The Pointe-à-Pitre prosecutor’s office confirmed that, as of this morning, no formal complaints have been filed regarding these alleged financial irregularities.

A separate point of contention centers on the governance changes implemented by Alain Riouchi, the provisional administrator appointed on May 5th. Riouchi has introduced corrective measures, including the threat of severe sanctions for non-compliance, and has proposed increasing membership dues. This proposed increase has been met with resistance from many attorneys, who have described the measures as “unsustainable, and confiscatory.”

CARPA was established as a non-profit association under the law of 1901 and operates under specific regulations outlined in French law, governing the management of funds handled by attorneys. Its core functions include managing financial transactions for lawyers and contributing to legal aid and training programs.