INTRODUCTIONThe Dispute Resolution Centre, Trinidad and Tobago, (the DRC) was initially developed by the
Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and officially launched on August 24,
1996, by the Honourable Chief Justice, Michael de la Bastide. The DRC, however, is a completely
autonomous and neutral organisation, administered by its own Board of Directors.OUR VISION
The vision of the DRC is to be the premier institution for the promotion and operation of a reliable
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) training and referral system within Trinidad and Tobago and at
the sub-regional level.OBJECTIVES
The DRC is dedicated to promoting an environment in which people are encouraged to work
together to find alternative means of resolving conflict. This will be achieved by:
• Providing public education to broaden the awareness of ADR
• Developing and maintaining a strong cadre of qualified and experienced facilitators in
negotiation, mediation, arbitration and related areas
• Providing Mediation and Arbitration Services
• Providing consultancy services in the design and implementation of ADR and related
systems and procedures
• Offering training programmes of the highest quality in all aspects of ADR and peripheral
topicsDRC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
• Raoul John – Chairman
• Dennis Gurley – Vice Chairman
• Dave Aqui - Director
• Kenneth Dalip - Director
• Stephanie Daly - Director
• Joan Ferreira – Director & CEO, T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce
• Christopher Hamel-Smith, S.C. – Director
• Yukmai Marsang – Director
• Baliram Sawh - Director
• Beverly Britain – Executive Director and Secretary to the Board.
SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DRC
Mediation Services
The DRC has trained many professionals from various disciplines and maintains a panel of
mediators. We match these mediators to cases where their special experience and expertise are
most relevant.
The DRC can provide full administrative support for all matters referred to mediation, including
secretarial, accommodation and housekeeping services. Disputes may be referred at any stage,
before or after the commencement of legal proceedings.
The DRC recommends the incorporation of ADR clauses into all contracts. In the event of a dispute,
the parties will be under a contractual obligation to discuss the problem privately and find an
amicable solution through ADR. This is a good way to manage disputes. Where such a clause does
not exist, the DRC can assist parties in structuring agreements to govern the conduct of mediation in
conflict situations.
Arbitration Services
The International Chamber of Commerce Caribbean Court of Arbitration has been set up in Trinidad
and Tobago and is administered by the DRC. The Court operates under the rules of the
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The DRC offers a choice of international and local
arbitrators, some of whom are retired High Court Judges.
Meeting Facilitation
The DRC is available to assist your institution by providing competent and neutral facilitation of
potentially difficult meetings. We can facilitate meetings which, are expected to be contentious or
complex, or meetings in which the in-house facilitator is not in a position to provide neutral
leadership.
Dispute Resolution System Design
The DRC is available to assist your institution in improving how it handles conflict on a system-wide
basis. The goals of our system design service are to reduce the high costs of ineffective dispute
resolution, to reduce the frequency of recurring conflicts, and to increase the quality and durability of
solutions. The system design process has five phases: Initial Consultation, Assessment, Design,
Implementation and Evaluation.
Training Programmes
The DRC organises Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and other workshops, seminars and
courses on a regular basis. We offer these programmes to the public or customise them to meet
your Organisation’s specific needs, and will combine any of the following topics to provide
comprehensive training courses. Further, our facilitators are drawn from a cadre of distinguished
trainers, both locally and internationally, who are leaders in their field.
Following is a listing of our workshops.
1. Alternative Dispute Resolution Training Programmes
• Conflict Management and Resolution
• Restorative Justice
• Anger Management
• Power & Contract Negotiation Skills
• Strategic Negotiations
• International Negotiations
• Mediation for Certification (by TT Mediation Board)
• Advanced Mediation
• Specialised Mediation (e.g. Commercial, Environmental, Workplace, Labour, Education)
• Arbitration
2. Human Resource Development Training Programmes
• Management Skills for New Managers
• Human Resource Management
• Coaching for Improved Performance
• Executive Coaching
• Train the Trainer
• Basic Supervisory Skills
• Advanced Supervisory Skills
• Team Building and Development
• Emotional Intelligence
• Communication and Listening Skills
• Leading and Managing Change
• Delivering Quality Customer Service
• Customer Relationship Management
• Telephone Customer Service
• Dealing with Difficult People
• Stress Management
• Anger Management
• Time Management
• Workplace Diversity
• Interpersonal Skills Development
• Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Effective Employee Appraisal
• Strategic Thinking
• Achieving Corporate Goals
• Assertiveness Training
• Emotional Competencies
• Improving Brain Performance and Mind Mapping
• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Personality Tests
• Self-Awareness, Self-Motivation, Self-Confidence
• Mentorship
3. Industrial Relations Training Programmes
• Grievance Handling
• Managing Probationers
• Progressive Discipline Process
• Handling Misconduct, Poor Performance
• Investigation Procedures and Practices
• Drafting Disciplinary Letters (memos, warning letters, suspensions)
• Dismissals
• Ministry of Labour Procedures / Representations
• Industrial Court Representation
• Labour Laws of Trinidad & Tobago and the Caribbean
• Policy Writing
• Collective Bargaining
• Retrenchment
• Workplace Injury Matters
• Working with Trade Unions / Trade Union Recognition Issues
• Contract Labour
For further information please contact cbenjamin@chamber.org.tt Phone: (868) 637-6966 Ext: 248 |