New Mediation Center Opened in Providenciales

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, July 25, 2022 – A new opportunity for restorative justice and dispute resolution is available for residents across the country with the commissioning of the Mediation Centre of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The centre, launched on Friday July 15th in Providenciales, was a combined effort between the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development and the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Chief Justice Mabel Ageymang explained what the Centre offered for Islanders.

“The Mediation Centre is dedicated to the use of persons throughout the islands who wish to have their disputes mediated, as well as victims of, and persons impacted by crime who seek to achieve healing and closure through Victim- Offender mediation, referred to as Restorative Justice.”  She said, “the Mediation Centre will be the neutral place away from the intimidations associated with courtrooms; providing comfort, to allow for meaningful mediation of disputes as well as the facilitation of the restorative process.”

Restorative justice was put into law in the TCI on June 1, 2022 with the backing of the Criminal Justice Group.  The Chief Justice stressed that it was efficient and a proven way to settle disputes.

“It is a form of mediation which employs a reparative approach to criminal justice by emphasizing the repairing of harm caused to victims and persons impacted by crime, as well as finding positive ways forward after the devastating effects of crime by encouraging meaningful engagement.  May I make it clear that all this is done without sacrificing the accountability that should accompany the commission of crime.”

Ageymang said the same applied for mediation and it was no less efficient than a court trial.

“Mediation which achieves speedy resolution, and is cost effective has the track record of upholding the dignity of feuding parties, and also, of preserving relationships.  Persons with disputes may now go to court not to have their matter heard by a Judge or Magistrate, but to request mediation—and now, they have a comfortable place to air their grievances and work towards the resolution of their dispute.”

In terms of amenities the Centre will have two conference rooms with electronic capability so that traumatized victims do not have to be in the same room as their abusers; an office for a mental health practitioner; offices for mediators and facilitators to prepare for sessions; an office for the ADR administrator who will assist mediators facilitators and residents as well as disabled access.  The Chief Justice stressed that despite the location being in Providenciales the Centre is for all Islanders.

Staffing for the Mediation Centre is also secured, as earlier this year President of the Bar Association Selvyn Hawkins announced that mediation services were now actively available for Islanders in the Justice system for both civil and criminal cases as community residents and members of the Bar Association had been trained and certified in the discipline by the University of the West Indies.

Ageymang revealed that 42 residents have been trained in mediation and 26 in restorative justice so far.  The new volunteers include attorneys; members of the House of Assembly; psychologists; public servants; members of the public and ministers.  Eleven of these trained individuals are already on the mediation roster and 10 applications are pending.  Unfortunately only one person was on the restorative justice roster, Ageymang encouraged the rest of the people trained by the Justice system to apply to join the roster immediately.

The event was attended by acting Governor Anya Williams, Chief Justice Mabel Ageymang, Certified Mediator Ann Diaz who was responsible for the training of the Turks and Caicos’s new mediators, Premier Washington Misick, other Ministers of Government and high ranking officials in the judiciary.