July
10, 2004, The Jamaica Dispute Resolution Foundation presented
its 10th Anniversary Award to the Center for Dispute Resolution
at Capital University Law School. This citation recognizes the
Center for Dispute Resolution for assistance, education and funds
provided to develop the Jamaica Dispute Resolution Foundation
and dispute resolution services in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
The relationship between Capital University Law School and the
Jamaica Dispute Resolution Foundation began almost 20 years ago
when Jamaican government officials expressed concerns about the
rise of violence in their country. Former minister of Justice,
R. Carl Rattray, Q.C., spoke of his hopes for the success of the
dispute resolution project when he said, "Mediation can inject
gentleness in the way we handle problems. We need that so badly
in Jamaica."
Since then, the Law School and the staff of the Center for Dispute
Resolution, Professor Roberta Mitchell and co-directors Scot Dewhirst
and Terrence Wheeler, have worked with the Jamaica Dispute Resolution
Foundation to introduce and develop dispute resolution services.
They worked with Jamaican officials and private leaders to engage
in strategic planning, fund raising and grant writing. One of
the earliest projects, funded by the Ford Foundation, established
an island-wide dispute resolution program for the courts, communities,
and police. A mediation training manual and five training videos,
which were filmed on-site in Jamaica and starred Jamaican nationals,
were developed. Throughout the years, representatives from the
Center and Capital University have delivered speeches and made
presentations at various sites across Jamaica to increase public
awareness of dispute resolution methods.
The citation is dedicated to the Capital University Law School
and specifies former Dean and President Emeritus Josiah
Blackmore, Adjunct Professor and Co-Director of the Center
for Dispute Resolution Scot Dewhirst, former
Director of International Education Starr Huffman Mayer,
Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Dispute Resolution
Roberta Mitchell, former Dean Rodney Smith
and Adjunct Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Dispute
Resolution Terry Wheeler.
The citation reads in part:
“This award recognizes the vision and seminal service of
Capital University Law & Graduate Centre and its staff to
the development of our organization and of Dispute Resolution
services in Jamaica and the Caribbean.”
[ View
Citation (PDF) ]
