United Nations Development Programme Jamaica

"Creating a Culture of Dispute Resolution for Economic Growth: Weaving Arbitration and Mediation into the Fabric of Life." The Conference took place at the Knutsford Court Hotel on 1st May 2009.
From left: (At podium) CJ Zaila McCalla, Ms. Akiko Fujii, Mr. Novar McDonald, Sen. Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne, QC, Attorney General & Minister of Justice, Ms. Minna Israel, Board Chair, Mona School of Business, Mr. John Bassie Chair, CIArb. Caribbean Branch, Mrs. Jacqueline Samuels Brown, JBA President.

Remarks
Ms. Akiko Fujii; Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP, Jamaica
On The 4th Caribbean Conference on Dispute Resolution

Senator the Honourable Dorothy Lightbourne, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Chief Justice the Honourable Zaila McCalla, Mrs Donna Parchment Brown, Colleagues, Partners, Ladies and Gentlemen - good morning.

I extend to you all the good wishes of the UNDP Jamaica, Resident Representative, Mr. Minh Pham and that of the entire UNDP team.

The United Nations Development Programme commends the Dispute Resolution Foundation on its 15th Anniversary and the staging of the 4th Caribbean Conference in Dispute Resolution, as we all celebrate the achievement of the Governor General's Proclamation of 2009 as the National Year of Dispute Resolution. Dispute resolution is also a critical element in promoting good governance and thereby achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

UNDP is extremely pleased to be associated with the work of the Dispute Resolution Foundation.

Under the Jamaica Violence Prevention, Peace & Sustainable Development Project the UNDP has been supporting the Foundation's work in justice, development and enhanced community safety through the Peace and Justice Centres here in Trench Town as well as at the Spanish Town Centre and the Western Dispute Resolution Centre in Montego Bay.

The Project is a 3-year effort, launched last year, which will provide support to three government entities and six civil society bodies, including the DRF. The value of our support to the Foundation for 2009 is almost 8 million Jamaican dollars.

The Foundation's centres make an important contribution to national development. Insecurity and fear of violence limit the mobility of community members, restrict their work and education choices, and take a toll on individual and collective mental and physical health. Violence undermines trust and the social capital on which to build strong communities and it has huge social and economic costs for all of society.

The UNDP recognizes that there is broad consensus in Jamaica on safety, security and justice as development priorities. Security, justice and governance have been identified by the Government of Jamaica as priority issues in its Medium-Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework (MTSEPF). A comprehensive National Security Policy (NSP) was adopted by Cabinet in early 2007 and published as a White Paper.

The UN Country Team is working together on these issues which are also priority areas for support by all of Jamaica's main international development partners. The broader Jamaican society is also significantly engaged - the private sector and civil society organisations are increasingly focusing on peace and security.

Jamaica has fertile ground therefore for great progress to be achieved especially through increased coordination of efforts and collaboration among the many actors and stakeholders.

UNDP is playing its part in this latter process through its support for the Jamaica Violence Prevention, Peace and Sustainable Development Project.

UNDP values the Dispute Resolution Foundation as a key partner in this project, based on its track record of high quality, appropriate and innovative services. We are pleased therefore to be able to bring greetings to the Foundation at this 4th Caribbean Conference on Dispute Resolution especially with the most relevant theme "Creating a Culture of Dispute Resolution for Economic growth: Weaving Arbitration and Mediation into the Fabric of Life"

We look forward to our continued collaboration in the cause of achieving peace and sustainable development in Jamaica.