Introduction of mediation, good move
published: Wednesday | January 29, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE LEGAL fraternity and the government are to be congratulated for the replacement of the 1889 civil procedure code. Specifically, the introduction of mediation is most opportune. The availability of alternate dispute resolution options will serve our country well.
I have had the honour of being a mediator/attorney for 15 years in a jurisdiction outside of Jamaica. I am familiar with the standard of training of mediators at the Dispute Resolution Foundation in Kingston. The training has been conducted in significant parts by Canadians under the auspicies of the Social Conflict and Legal Reform Project, and the mediation is modelled on the Ontario, Canada experience.
The pool of talent that has been trained and conducting mediations includes holders of designations such as Phd, Q.C., M.B.A., LLB, J.D. and B.A. They reflect the spectrum of attorneys, businessmen, scientists and teachers.
Senator Lightbourne may not be aware that the Dispute Resolution Foundation has been actively involved with mediation in Jamaica since 1994. The combination of experience, training and facilitation augurs well for the provision of excellence in mediation service. I would invite Senator Lightbourne and all others to utilise the process and derive extra client satisfaction.
