Antigua and Barbuda will host a regional training session on mediation and arbitration on Nov. 25 as part of an initiative aimed at helping Caribbean businesses and individuals resolve disputes without lengthy and costly court proceedings.
The training will be held in partnership with the Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) under the OHADAC-CARO project, which seeks to strengthen alternative dispute resolution across the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
The initiative forms part of the Access to Justice Programme, which provides training for chambers of commerce, lawyers and judges to encourage the use of mediation and arbitration as alternatives to traditional court proceedings.
Organizers say lengthy legal disputes can affect people’s quality of life, access to finances and business opportunities. Such cases can also contribute to growing backlogs in national court systems.
Mediation allows parties involved in a disagreement to work toward a mutually acceptable solution rather than leaving the outcome entirely to a judge or another decision-maker.
The regional training programme began in Saint Lucia on Sept. 17, 2026, with a session focused on practical tools for managing commercial risks through alternative dispute resolution.
That session was organized in partnership with the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Caribbean Branch. It brought together business representatives, consumer protection officials and other private-sector stakeholders.
Following the Antigua and Barbuda session, another training programme is scheduled for Dec. 2 in St. Kitts and Nevis, in partnership with that country’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
A session is also scheduled for Dominica on Nov. 19, in collaboration with the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce and the Dominica Bar Association.
The programme is expected to expand in 2027 to include judges of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, practicing lawyers across the OECS and government stakeholders.
Organizers say the wider initiative will help improve access to justice, strengthen dispute resolution skills and reduce reliance on traditional court proceedings throughout the region.
The training programme is being implemented in partnership with the OECS, with co-financing from the French Development Agency under the Interreg Caribbean VI Programme.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda to Host Mediation Training on Nov. 25.