“Inspirational Course” comes to George Town – with six free places available

November brings many events to our Island but few will offer the life-changing opportunities of an internationally acclaimed course at the exceptional North Church Street offices of the Cayman Islands Mediation and Arbitration Centre. 

The week (18th to 22nd November 2024) will provide “inspirational” vocational training as a mediator and dispute resolution expert - and six free places are on offer as a gift to the island from the Bould Foundation.  It is fully supported by leading lights in Grand Cayman, including the Deputy Premier the Hon. Hon. André Ebanks, MP, and will lead to long-term benefits, for both individuals and our community. 

The course (which is available commercially for at CI$ 1150) is led by the London-based international Faculty of the Society of Mediators and its award-winning expert CEO Jonathan Dingle FRSA.  It will give delegates the most up-to-date skills in community, business, and relationship conflict resolution – along with advanced negotiation, deep listening, and mindfulness.  In short, those who pass will have highly transportable knowledge and accreditation.

Mediation is a process of conflict resolution in which a trained neutral, called a mediator, helps two or more people in dispute to reach a mutually acceptable solution. The mediator (who often is not a lawyer) does not impose a solution - but helps create an effective conversation that allows people to explore possible solutions. Mediation is often used as an alternative to litigation or other more adversarial methods of resolving disputes, as it is much quicker, far less expensive, and non-confrontational, so very different to going to court. People involved in a dispute can either agree to mediate voluntarily or be ordered by a court or other authority to attend mediation. If people agree to mediate voluntarily, they can choose a mediator - and a time and location that suits everyone.

Mediation can be useful for a wide range of disputes, including in community, neighbour, and family disputes; workplace conflicts; contract disagreements; personal injury claims; and many more. It provides an opportunity for people to work together with a neutral mediator to find a mutually acceptable solution, rather than going through the often lengthy and expensive process of going to court. Mediation is a collaborative process that allows parties to communicate and negotiate effectively, and it can often (in more than 85% of cases) result in an effective, agreed, and usually more durable satisfactory outcome for everyone involved.

The week is hugely enjoyable and this will be the tenth time since 2008 that it has been run in the Cayman Islands.  The Faculty are very familiar with the community, business, and legal context and really enjoy offering their knowledge as part of a charitable outreach from the United Kingdom’s leading mediation training organisation. 

The course has been described as “life changing” and well-known attorney and solicitor Toni Wildish called it “the best training I have ever done”. 

“A golden opportunity” – Deputy Premier

The course and offer of free places thrilled the Hon. André Ebanks, MP, who fully supports this initiative and mentioned it to a few Caymanians who are legally qualified and looking for opportunities to bolster their qualifications and attractiveness in the legal job market.

The Deputy Premier, Minister for Financial Services & Commerce and Minister for Investment, Innovation & Social Development, called the chance for people to do the training for free “a golden innovative opportunity to progress and lay the foundations for a successful career in many walks of life; whilst showcasing the potential of the Cayman Islands Meditation and Arbitration Centre.” 

“The course will change lives” – Director

Megan Paget-Brown, Director of the Cayman Islands Mediation and Arbitration Centre, said: “I am delighted that we are able to offer this course to the Island.  Mediation is the future of dispute resolution in all jurisdictions – as well as in our community.  The skills people acquire in the week will allow them to change their lives and professional outlook.”