{
    "title": "Cutting Court Backlogs in the OECS with Mediation and Arbitration Training by the OHADAC-CARO Regional Arbitration Centre",
    "modified_at": "2026-11-03 15:10:55",
    "published_at": "2026-11-09 16:54:00",
    "url": "https://pressroom.oecs.int/cutting-court-backlogs-in-the-oecs-with-mediation-and-arbitration-training-by-the-ohadac-caro-regional-arbitration-centre",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/xgQd",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "Joint Media Release",
    "slug": "cutting-court-backlogs-in-the-oecs-with-mediation-and-arbitration-training-by-the-ohadac-caro-regional-arbitration-centre",
    "body": "<p>Nationals in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States have long lived with the reality of lengthy legal disputes, sometimes spanning generations, that affect individuals&rsquo; quality of life, access to finances and business opportunities. The impact can extend beyond individual circumstances, as lengthy court proceedings contribute to growing backlogs across national justice systems.</p><p>The Access to Justice Programme: Capacity Building on Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the Caribbean, being delivered by the OHADAC Regional Arbitration (CARO) Centre aims to provide training for chambers of commerce, lawyers and judges to strengthen the use of arbitration and mediation as alternatives to traditional court proceedings in the OECS.</p><p>The first training session, held on 17 September 2026 under the theme &lsquo;Alternative Dispute Resolution for Businesses in Saint Lucia: Practical Tools for Commercial Risk Management&rsquo;, was organised in partnership with the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (SLCCIA) and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CiArb) Caribbean Branch, which invited its members to participate. The session also brought together representatives of the Consumer Protection Council within the Ministry of Commerce, as well as other stakeholders supporting the private sector. </p><p>In the opening remarks, Keats Compton, Board Member of the CARO Centre, described how ADR contributes to regional integration.</p><blockquote><strong>&ldquo;We are very happy to have now what is proving to be an alternative dispute resolution centre within the Caribbean, so when a company has disputes with a partner, it does not have to go through fancy and expensive jurisdiction.&rdquo;</strong></blockquote><blockquote><strong>&quot;Projects like this will do more for regional integration...because regulatory certainty is key for the business community.&rdquo;</strong></blockquote><p>Marie-Camille Pitton, Secretary-General of the CARO Centre, shared similar thoughts:</p><blockquote><strong>&ldquo;I believe alternative dispute resolution has such potential of delivering quick and reasonably fast justice and also justice that is apt to handling commercial issues.&rdquo;</strong></blockquote><p>For Ana&iuml;s Leray, OECS Collaborator at the CARO Centre, the focus is not on replacing the courts, but on giving businesses and other parties additional avenues to resolve disputes.</p><p>The CARO Centre is part of an initiative to reduce the backlog of cases before OECS national courts, and mediation and arbitration sit at the heart of that effort. </p><blockquote><strong>&ldquo;Putting forth alternative dispute resolution is the goal,&rdquo;</strong> Leray explained.</blockquote><p>Mediation brings disputing parties together with the assistance of a neutral third party to explore a mutually acceptable solution. Arbitration, meanwhile, provides an alternative forum in which a dispute can be determined outside the ordinary court process.</p><p>What these mechanisms offer, above all, is a way out before a disagreement hardens into litigation. </p><blockquote><strong>&ldquo;If you have an alternative, you can actually start a discussion,&rdquo; </strong>Leray said. <strong>&ldquo;You can usually resolve your conflicts rather than going in front of the courts.&rdquo;</strong></blockquote><p>Reducing court backlogs does not mean that every dispute should be diverted away from the courts. Rather, the greater use of appropriate alternatives can allow disputes that are suitable for mediation or arbitration to be resolved through those mechanisms, while courts can focus their resources on matters that require judicial determination.</p><p>For businesses, this makes alternative dispute resolution an important part of commercial risk management. Arbitration and mediation, Leray noted, can save time and money.</p><blockquote>The real benefit, however, comes from planning ahead. Dispute resolution, she said, is <strong>&ldquo;something [businesses] should think [of] when making the contract rather than after, when the dispute arises.&rdquo;</strong></blockquote><p>That emphasis on planning is particularly relevant for small and medium-sized enterprises, where a dispute can consume resources that would otherwise be directed towards day-to-day operations, employees and growth. </p><p>Dispute-resolution provisions can be considered when contracts are negotiated, rather than only once a disagreement has emerged. Businesses entering into contracts with suppliers, customers, partners or other commercial entities can therefore consider in advance how potential disputes will be addressed. Establishing an agreed process can provide clarity if a disagreement later arises.</p><p>Urban Dolor, an experienced mediator in Saint Lucia and facilitator of the training session, highlighted the particular pressures faced by small businesses.</p><blockquote><strong>&ldquo;Very often in a small business, you are multitasking,&rdquo; </strong>Dolor said.<strong> &ldquo;So if, for example, you have a dispute, you really do not want to use a significant part of your resources [for said dispute].&rdquo;</strong></blockquote><p>Dolor described mediation as a way of promoting regional integration by recognising that one&rsquo;s own perspective is not necessarily the only valid one.</p><blockquote><strong>&ldquo;Once you get into the mindset that your view or your perspective is not the only correct perspective, you begin to understand and accept what other people do and don&rsquo;t condemn them simply because they don&rsquo;t do things like you,&rdquo; </strong>he said.<strong> &ldquo;Right away, you can see how having that mindset of mediation, having the understanding that there can be more than one right way to do something, then all of a sudden you open windows and doors for people to live in harmony.&rdquo; </strong></blockquote><p>Mediation can also give disputing parties a greater sense of ownership over the process. Rather than placing the outcome entirely in the hands of a judge or other decision-maker, the parties themselves participate in shaping the solution.</p><p>Dolor said that alternative dispute resolution (ADR) can also contribute to greater confidence when businesses enter into commercial arrangements.</p><p>The training in Saint Lucia marks the beginning of a wider regional initiative to strengthen capacity in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution across the OECS. The programme will continue with three further training sessions for the private sector:</p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>On 19 November 2026 in Dominica, in partnership with the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC) and the Dominica Bar Association.</span></li><li><span>On 25 November 2026 in Antigua, in partnership with the Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce (ABCC).</span></li><li><span>On 2 December 2026 in Saint Kitts and Nevis, in partnership with the Saint Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce.</span></li></ul><p>Building on this initial phase, the programme is also expected to expand in 2027 to include training for judges of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, lawyers practising across the OECS, and government stakeholders. These activities will contribute to strengthening knowledge and practical capacity in alternative dispute resolution across the justice system, the legal profession and the public sector, while promoting greater awareness and accessibility of these mechanisms throughout the region.</p><p>The CARO Centre also plans to establish a local office in Saint Lucia, further supporting its regional presence and engagement with stakeholders.</p><hr /><p>About the CARO Centre</p><p style=\"text-align: justify\">The OHADAC Regional Arbitration Centre (CARO Centre) works to develop arbitration and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms across the Caribbean. It supports economic, legal and institutional stakeholders in promoting access to effective dispute resolution solutions, legal certainty and more secure commercial exchanges adapted to Caribbean realities.</p><hr /><p>About the OECS</p><p style=\"text-align: justify\">The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), established on June 18, 1981, is an international intergovernmental organisation dedicated to fostering regional integration in the Eastern Caribbean. The Organisation&#039;s current vision is &quot;A better quality of life for the people of the OECS,&quot; and its mission statement is &quot;To drive and support sustainable development through regional integration, collective action, and development cooperation.&quot; The OECS comprises seven full Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines and five associate Member States: the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Saint Martin.</p><hr /><p>About the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture</p><p style=\"text-align: justify\">The Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (SLCCIA) is a leading private-sector organisation in Saint Lucia, representing the interests of businesses and supporting private-sector development and a favourable environment for economic activity.</p><hr /><p style=\"text-align: justify\">About the CiArb</p><p style=\"text-align: justify\">CiArb is a global professional body of the world&rsquo;s largest community of private dispute resolution professionals. Its diverse and inclusive membership brings together professionals from across the world with different backgrounds, experiences and professional disciplines. It revolves around the shared commitment to advancing effective dispute resolution and making a positive difference in the way disputes are resolved. </p><hr /><div\n    id='gallery-7dc93605-f05f-4eb5-9ac9-015487bcf9d0'\n    class='release-content-gallery release-content-gallery--layout-contained'\n    data-component='chromatic-gallery,image-zoom-popup'\n    data-chromatic-gallery-padding='S'\n    data-chromatic-gallery-thumbnail-size='M'\n    data-chromatic-gallery-captions='data:application/json,true'\n    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class=\"release-content-contact__details\">\n        <strong class=\"release-content-contact__name\">Claudia Mc Dowell</strong>\n        <em class=\"release-content-contact__description\">Communications Specialist, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States</em>\n        <ul class=\"release-content-contact__details-list\"><li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"mailto:claudia.mcdowell@oecs.int\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"claudia.mcdowell@oecs.int\"><svg class=\"icon icon-paper-plane release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-paper-plane\"></use>\n            </svg>claudia.mcdowell@oecs.int</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"tel:+1758-455-6340\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"+1758-455-6340\"><svg class=\"icon icon-phone release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-phone\"></use>\n            </svg>+1758-455-6340</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://www.oecs.int\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"oecs.int\"><svg class=\"icon icon-browser release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-browser\"></use>\n            </svg>oecs.int</a></li></ul>\n    </div>\n</div><div class=\"release-content-contact\" id=\"contact-c3b71e97-3491-43a4-b563-0ab18085d90d\">\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__details\">\n        <strong class=\"release-content-contact__name\">OECS Communications Unit</strong>\n        <em class=\"release-content-contact__description\">Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States</em>\n        <ul class=\"release-content-contact__details-list\"><li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"mailto:media@oecs.int\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"media@oecs.int\"><svg class=\"icon icon-paper-plane release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-paper-plane\"></use>\n            </svg>media@oecs.int</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"tel:+1758-455-6327\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"+1758-455-6327\"><svg class=\"icon icon-phone release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-phone\"></use>\n            </svg>+1758-455-6327</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://twitter.com/@oecscommission\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"@oecscommission\"><svg class=\"icon icon-twitter release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-twitter\"></use>\n            </svg>@oecscommission</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/@OECSCommission\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"@OECSCommission\"><svg class=\"icon icon-facebook release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-facebook\"></use>\n            </svg>@OECSCommission</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"http://www.oecs.int\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"oecs.int\"><svg class=\"icon icon-browser release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-browser\"></use>\n            </svg>oecs.int</a></li></ul>\n    </div>\n</div><hr /><p>&nbsp;</p>",
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