EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of the Dispute Resolution Foundation, Donna Parchment is hopeful that there will be a reduction of crime and violence in Spanish Town, St. Catherine with the addition of 49 mediators.
The mediators completed their training last week after an intensive six-day mediation workshop funded by the Canadian Gender Fund.
The programme which cost some $2.2 million and involved persons aged 18-35 years old, who were trained in conflict management, conflict resolution skills, rapport building, self-esteem building, motivation and anger management.
According to Miss Parchment, the participants including policemen, were drawn primarily from Spanish Town communities.
She noted that based on the experiences gained from mediation activities in the community of Flankers, Montego Bay and Trench Town in St. Andrew, there was hope that this batch of mediators would become part of a larger programme in St. Catherine, leading to the opening of a Peace and Justice Centre in Spanish Town.
"We're hoping to utilise the skills of these newly trained mediators in enhancing out-reach activities in their various communities and using them on a panel of mediators to help resolve conflict in the communities and possibly some in the courts, creating the first civil centre for resolution", she said.
Meanwhile Mayor of Spanish Town, Dr. Andrew Wheatley has welcomed the additional mediators as a significant effort to dealing with the issue of violence.
