MEDIATION INSTITUTE OF GUYANA INC.

Report on Mediation Forum

The Mediation Institute of Guyana Inc. (MIG) held its ever first Mediation Forum at the Ocean View International Hotel, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, Guyana on the 28th October 2011 for Judges, Attorneys at Law, Mediators and members of the business community.

The MIG also held a second Mediation session at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street, Guyana on the 28th October 2011 from 2:15 pm Guyana for Judges and Attorneys at Law only.

The initiatives were funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-Governance Enhancement Project (GEP). 

The theme of the Mediation Forum was “Embracing the Potential of Mediation.”

Ms Jamela A. Ali, President of the Mediation Institute of Guyana Inc. (MIG), Attorney at Law & Mediator delivered the welcome address.

Highlights of Ms. Jamela A. Ali welcome speech.

Mediation is a process for settling disputes between parties by an independent trained person. It was introduced in Guyana in 2003 and enjoyed an enthusiastic start with 175 mediations conducted in 2004. Sadly, in the last few years, Mediation lost some of its vigour and the numbers declined dramatically. In 2010, only 37 mediations were conducted. 

MIG organised the event to highlight Mediation, the process, the advantages and the creativeness, thereby encouraging greater use of mediation as a means of alternative dispute resolution to reduce the backlog of court cases. This reduction is expected to allow for more timely access to justice. This Forum was also to familiarise the business world of this process with a view of letting them how their business can benefit from this Mediation and Justice process. 

It was the President’s hope that “this Mediation Forum will at least enlighten them about Mediation, encourage them to utilise Mediation services where it mattered, where it can touch and save lives, alleviate suffering and where it can make a difference to the quality of life.” 

The President stated, “Mediation has an important role to play in Guyana. Mediation, where appropriate, must become an integral part of our litigation culture. We all need to inculcate a settlement culture.”

Ms. Ali extended a warm welcome to all and hoped that “they will have a better understanding of what is mediation, how it works, the advantages, how everyone of us can benefit from this alternative dispute resolution process so that ultimately, there will be greater use of mediation services.”

Ms. Ali stated that “The potential of Mediation is vast. In keeping with our theme, let us embrace and realise the potential of Mediation. We all have a role to play.”

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The President of MIG, Ms Jamela A. Ali also delivered a presentation on Mediation and the Benefits. See excerpt as published in Guyana Chronicle Newspapers under the title - Jamela Ali More mediation use can reduce court cases backlog

http://www.guyanachronicleonline.com/site/index.php?....

Other speakers included

The Honourable Chancellor of the Judiciary Mr. Justice Carl Singh gave a presentation on Mediation in the Supreme Court of Guyana.

See excerpts of his speech as printed in Sunday Chronicle of the 30th October 2011.

Ms. Pamela Nauth, 1st Vice President of MIG spoke about MIG.

Chairman of the Mediation Board of Trinidad and Tobago, Justice Vasheist Kokoram delivered the feature presentation.

Extract as published in the Guyana Chronicle Newspapers of the 30th October 2011.

“He observed that, in taking this giant step of embracing the concept of mediation and institutionalising a court-annexed mediation programme, Guyana would have fashioned for itself a customised judicial system that is responsive to the real needs of litigants. This, he said, could unlock the maze and dispel the spells of the adversarial system by reinforcing simple and basic human values which permeate a mediation process.

Among some of the fears surrounding mediation that Justice Kokoram listed are unfamiliarity with the process, an overall increase in costs if mediation fails, and the feeling that it will deprive lawyers of their fees.

“We must liberate ourselves from these fears that somehow mediation is a mere bastard child of the judicial system…or it represents soft justice, or that it is inferior to the rights-based system, or that it violates a person’s right to access the court.

“In liberating yourself from those unfounded fears of mediation, you would have responded to the increasing demands on our judicial system to be economical, responsive, efficient, and the changing global competitive landscape”.”


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This session was chaired by Dr. Ilona Roach, 2nd Vice President of MIG

Vote of thanks was given by Director of MIG – Ms. Hazel Halley-Burnett

She thanked the following:

1. USAID-GEP for the funding to  convene thesession and also the website www.migonline.org which will soon be launched;
2. Hon Carl Singh who gave full support to the extent of re-scheduling  an overseas meeting so that he can be here to not only attend but to deliver a presentation;
3. Justice Kokeram  who had other engagements, but made a special effort to be here;
4. Participants;
5. the Media we love you! you are the vessel to take our story to the world,
6. the President and board members of MIG we should feel elated, I can’t begin to relate to you our fears at not being able to bring this off and the President’s commitment to the process. We are now one more step closer to making Mediation work in Guyana.
7. Ocean View International for preparing the venue and other support services to make this event the success it is.

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The Mediation Institute of Guyana Inc. (MIG) also held a second session at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street, Guyana on the 28th October 2011 from 2:15 pm Guyana for Judges and Attorneys at Law.

The theme of the Mediation Forum was “Embracing the Potential of Mediation.”

The Treasurer of MIG, Mr. Mohamed G. Khan gave a presentation on a Mediator’s Experience on Mediation.

Chairman of the Mediation Board of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Justice Vasheist Kokoram delivered the feature presentation.

This second session was chaired by Ms. Pamela Nauth, 1st Vice President of MIG.

Vote of thanks was given by a Director of MIG – Ms. Hazel Halley-Burnett

At this session, five Judges attended (one from Court of Appeal, 3 from High Court and one retired High Court Judge), about 13 Attorneys at Law, 6 Directors of MIG, Chief of Party and other officials of GEP/ARD and DGA of USAID.

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Mediation Institute of Guyana Inc.

Ms. Jamela A. Ali was elected as President of the Mediation Institute of Guyana Inc. at its second Annual General Meeting held on the 8 June 2011.
Other Directors are Pamela Nauth 1st Vice President, Ilona Perreira 2nd Vice President, Sadie Amin as Secretary, Mohamed Khan as Treasurer, Zairol Neisha and Hazel Hally-Burnett as Directors.

The Mediation Institute of Guyana (MIG) will be hosting its first ever Mediation Forum on the 28th October 2011

Theme – Embracing the Potential of Mediation

15 Aug 2011 - MIG was invited to be Guyana Country Representative to Mediation World ...the definitive guide to global mediation developments. Mediation World is a unique and collaborative resource for governments, courts, businesses, lawyers, mediators, students and NGOs. ...the definitive guide to global mediation developments. Mediation World is a unique and collaborative resource for governments, courts, businesses, lawyers, mediators, students and NGOs.

http://www.mediationworld.net/guyana/articles/full/886.html
http://www.mediationworld.net/

14 July 2011 - 6 members attended training on Communication & Strategic Planning Training - hosted by USAID/GEP - Karen Louise Boothe was the Facilitator with over 20 years of experience as a journalist and communications consultant.