The Judicial Reform and Institutional Strengthening (JURIST) Project in collaboration with the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) and the University of the West Indies (UWI – St. Augustine Campus) held mediation training for 25 persons from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) from May 21-25, 2018 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
In 2003, at the time of the introduction of Court Connected Mediation in St. Vincent and the Greanadines, a Mediation Committee was established to oversee the mediation program. As part of the introduction of mediation, 25 persons were trained. Out of those persons, approximately 10 were selected to be placed on the Roster of Court Connected Mediators.
However, over the years, many persons, left the program for various reasons and the Mediation Committee ceased operations. Nonetheless, mediation continued in St. Vincent and the Grenadines with a reduced number of trained mediators on the Roster. These persons provided quality service to the Court.
Recognising the need to fill the gap left behind by those persons who opted out of the program, the Project with the ECSC and the UWI embarked on a training session to increase the number of trained mediators in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
This was preceded by a sensitisation and public awareness program from May 16-18, 2018 which included meetings and seminars with all stakeholders including judges and masters, members of the Bar Association and court staff. Led by Mr. Francis Compton, Regional Mediation Coordinator, ECSC, the purpose the sensitisation and public awareness program was to promote the use of mediation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. During the training, Mr. Compton also started work to reconstitute the Mediation Committee.
