Managing Partner and Attorney in the Turks and Caicos Islands help launched I-Neutral Platform on Thursday 20th May 2021 with Jamaican Justice Minister Hon. Delroy Chuck, JAIC Secretary General Dr. Christopher Malcolm, Datuk Professor Sundra Rajoo, Director of the Asian International Arbitration Centre and Caribbean Development Bank Deputy General Counsel Nicole Liverpool Jordan.
Conceived by Dr. Christopher Malcolm, I-Neutral provides effective, third-party-assisted options for resolving disputes without the need to enter a courtroom, and has a developed full-spectrum application capacity for dealing with domestic and international disputes. The services offered include mediation, conciliation, facilitated contract renegotiation, neutral evaluation, adjudication, arbitration and restorative justice from a panel of experienced domestic and international arbitrators. Foreign lawyers are also allowed to appear in arbitral proceedings.
Speaking at the Launch of I Neutral, Managing Partner of F Chambers Mark Fulford of Turks and Caicos Islands said “ I -Neutral is a modern tool that will be welcome in the Turks and Caicos toolbox to provide greater access to justice. With TCI Courts being ran by a new and progressive Chief Justice Mabel Ageymang and her able Registrar Renee McLean who have been working post haste to modernize our courts and with our small court make up to service a population of 40,000 – I Neutral can play a great role in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
Fulford further commented that “ the I Neutral platform is quite impressive and this revolutionary platform will fit well within the plans for further modernization of access to justice in the Turks and Caicos Islands. We endorse I-Neutral and look forward to its launch soon in TCI and wish the JAIC, Dr Malcolm and his team much success!”
Speaking during the official launch of the platform, Datuk Professor Sundra Rajoo, Director of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC), said the launch of the platform is an important and revolutionary milestone. “Jamaica is representing the Caribbean and has taken the lead in this area,” he said, noting that with the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic on countries the innovation could not have come at a more apt time. He said the flexibility of the portal, which allows collaboration with other centres and institutes, was also another plus.
Minister Delroy Chuck in his comments said the innovation is another measure which will reduce the backlog in the island’s courts.
“Previously, after careful review of the system for the administration of justice in Jamaica, I came to the considered conclusion that the court system would be greatly assisted by complementary, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms,” Chuck said.
“I have become even more convinced that complementary ADR services are required if the need for timely and efficient outcomes is to be prioritised. I strongly believe that alternative justice services is a major solution towards supporting the reduction of case backlog and daily heavy caseload in our courts, and also to address the underlying social issues which give rise to tension, conflicts and crime in our communities,” he stated.
“Today’s development is welcome and is a significant private sector-led step in the right direction. I believe it could soon become a dispute resolution tool of choice in the public sector,” the justice minister added.
The JAIAC was first established in November 2015 as a not-for-profit company. It provides support for the conduct of domestic, regional and international arbitration, mediation, adjudication, neutral evaluation and other services under its own rules. It as well administers and provides support for ad hoc arbitrations.
Other Participants on hand for the Launch included: Sir Patterson Cheltenham, GCM Chief Justice of Barbados; Mr Lloyd Distant, Jnr President,Jamaica Chamber of Commerce; Mr Milton Samuda,Managing Partner, Samuda & Johnson Jamaica ; Ms Janet Silvera, President, Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce Jamaica; Mr Anil Changaroth, Managing Director, ChangAroth Chambers LLC Singapore; Mr Anand Juddoo, Director, Juddoo Consulting, Mauritius ; Mr Jhade Lindsay, Attorney-at-Law, Jamaica; Mr John Rooney, Arbitrator & Attorney-at-Law, John H Rooney, Jr, Esq, Miami; and Ms Karen Gough, Barrister, 39 Essex Chambers, London.
