The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Bahamas Branch, recently gathered at Luciano’s Conference Room for the installation ceremony of their Officers. L - R: Some of the Members of the Executive Committee: Hubert Edwards, Chartered Accountant - Honorary Treasurer/Strategic Financial and Development Chair; Justice Lorris Ganpatsingh (Retired); Mrs. Kelphene Cunningham, Retired president, The Bahamas Labour Tribunal, Barrister at Law - Education & Training Deputy Chair; Justice Rubie M. Nottage (retired) - Education & Training Chair; Mrs. Cherise Cox-Nottage, Barrister at Law; Tony S. Joudi, Civil Engineer -Honorary Secretary; Tina Demeritte-Roye, Deputy Law Reform Commissioner; Damani Horton, Barrister at Law - Young Members Committee Chair.

NASSAU, Bahamas - The Bahamas Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) officially installed its Executive Committee Officers at a guest luncheon followed by informative presentations in Nassau’s downtown Luciano’s Conference Room. Guest speakers included The Hon. Khaalis Rolle, Minister of State for Investments and the Hon. Hope Strachan, Minister of Financial Services. The Bahamas Branch of the CIArb is the Institute’s third largest branch in the Americas region.

It was the addition of an important clause in the revision of the Arbitration Act in 2009 that opened a global door and a nation building opportunity for The Bahamas in the field of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The additional legal clause allowed The Bahamas to offer enforcement and recognition of foreign arbitral awards and consequently, to offer global arbitration, mediation, binding opinion and other forms of dispute resolution.

The installed Officers are all active members of the Bahamas Branch: Chairman: His Excellency, Dr. Richard C. Demeritte, Chartered Accountant; First Vice Chair: Dr. Peter Maynard, Barrister at Law; Second Vice Chair: Mrs. Cherise Cox-Nottage, Barrister at Law; Honorary Secretary General: Mr. Tony S. Joudi, Civil Engineer; and Honorary Treasurer: Mr. Hubert Edwards, Chartered Accountant.

In his welcome address to guests at the installation ceremony, CIArb Bahamas Branch chairman, His Excellency, Dr. Richard C. Demeritte, told of the advances towards the Institutes objectives and drew attention to the day’s theme: “Arbitration Essential to National Development, a National Solution that cannot be ignored.”

The chairman said, “The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Bahamas Branch is on the verge of establishing itself as one of the world’s leading centers for arbitration. More and more disputes are now being resolved out of court using alternative dispute resolution. We acknowledge that the potential and possibilities are endless, but also, that it requires the smartest and most imaginative minds in the industry, taking courageous action, supported by CIArb training and Government policy.”

CIArb Patron Dame Joan Sawyer, the retired President of the Bahamas Court of Appeal, and a former Chief Justice of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, gave the Charge to the Executive Committee, and noted that since its formation in 2010, CIArb Bahamas has made steady progress in fulfilling its mandate to offer internationally recognized accredited arbitrators and mediators.

“We have seen a steady increase in our base of qualified and trained professionals who can ably champion the cause of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution both locally and internationally. Properly trained and certified practitioners are here and ready to mediate and arbitrate.”

The Minister of Financial Services, Hope Strachan, informed attendees that her Ministry is mandated to create The Bahamas as an international arbitration hub, and that over the next four months, whilst continuing to work with local key stakeholders, would conduct a pertinent survey of international arbitrators and transactional lawyers in selected geographic areas.

“At the conclusion of the study, a related National Development Plan for the business of arbitration will be prepared by the Ministry’s Consultant, pre-eminent arbitrator and scholar in the field, Professor Jan Poulsson.”

Addressing the guests, Fellow CIArb Member and retired Justice Ruby Nottage, who heads up the CIArb training programme said that the Bahamas Branch already has Bahamians in place properly trained to mediate, arbitrate, adjudicate and resolve any dispute, whether civil or commercial.

“National Statistics indicate that conflict resolution is an urgent need, be it in personal relationships or communities, or in the resolution of contractual matters in any of our commercial sectors. CIArb Bahamas provides training and certification in the various areas of conflict resolution and the specialist knowledge and skills needed to get ahead in ADR. Three local members already sit as our nation’s representatives as Panellists in Arbitration and Conciliation at the World Bank’s International Centre for The Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington, D.C.”

Khaalis Rolle, MP Minister of State for Investments applauded the ongoing efforts and initiatives of the CIArb noting it will also provide opportunities for diversification in the legal and other professions. He welcomed the advent of a specific arbitration related National Development Plan and talked to his own Ministry’s National Development Plan.

He said that when the State of the Nation report is unveiled, he hoped it would prompt all to put aside those things that make us who we are to solve (current) problems, and “make us who we want to be.”