THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE GLEANER editorial of 23rd July 2003, captioned "Fixing the DPP's Office" reflected your concern at what you described as a "major problem" and your desire for expeditious and effective action, respectful of the professional status of the staff.
The Dispute Resolution Foundation (DRF) shares your desire for action. The process of mediation has won respect worldwide and has been utilised in disputes as massive and varied as the Northern Ireland conflict, Belize/Crooked Tree Environmental issue and many others.
The world-renowned American Arbitration Association has re-named its journal The Dispute Resolution Journal to demonstrate its embrace of process such as mediation in the workplace.
The Supreme Court of the OECS has included mediation in its new rules of civil procedure, Jamaica's Supreme Court is engaged in the Supreme Court Civil Mediation Pilot Project, the Supreme Court of Ontario, Canada, has mandatory mediation for almost every type of case, some UK courts, by a 1993 Practice Direction require solicitors to consider mediation, and the numerous jurisdictions of the US justice system utilise mediation as a norm of the court process and the federal government structure.
Lawyers, judges and other professionals have found the personal pragmatic and confidential process of mediation to be unequalled in enabling sustainable resolutions of issues and conflicts. Over the last nine years, the DRF and PALS Ja. have advocated the use of strategies which can resolve issues and conflicts and enable affected persons and institutions to move on in a way which furthers their individual and joint interest and survival.
The DRF has trained over 1,000 persons from all walks of life as mediators in Jamaica and in the Caribbean as an important part of its work and has mediated numerous disputes and issues in the Resident Magistrates' and Supreme Courts, organisations, communities and workplaces, and now manages, among others, a roster of 30 mediators for the Supreme Court, all of whom have completed basic and advanced mediator courses and practicum.
In looking at the current issue at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, it may be necessary to "clear the air", enabling catharsis where that is seen to be necessary by the use of trained, unbiased, respectful and confidential mediators skilled in helping persons talk and listen, who understand the impact of individual's cultural programming and the strategies relevant to conflicts touching on structures, information, values and other concerns.
Your editorial did not describe their best alternative to a negotiated agreement, but we believe that the dignity of the office and the state of mind of its personnel would be greatly enhanced by the process of mediation.
We congratulate those who have proposed this strategy and trust that the value of the process will be seen by all concerned and that they will participate fully, freely and respectfully with the support of the Jamaican public.
I am, etc.,
DONNA A.M. PARCHMENT, J.P.
Executive Director
Dispute Resolution Foundation
The Peace Centre
5 Camp Road
Kingston 4
