Source: Date: Updated: |
Caribbean Media Corporation
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 Tuesday, March 29, 2016 |
NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) – The Bahamas is to host a two-day workshop on International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) as the Caribbean Community (Caicom) country moves in the direction of becoming an international arbitration centre.
The Ministry of Financial Services said it is partnering with ICSID for the March 30 – 31 event that will provide training for individuals who will be serving in the area of arbitration.
“The establishment of an International Commercial Arbitration Centre will reaffirm the Government’s commitment to creative management and economic diversification,” said Financial Services Minister C V Hope Strachan (left).
He said it will allow professionals to expand the services they currently offer internationally and will establish a niche that can be marketed internationally and differentiate the Bahamas from other Caribbean countries.
“Last year we held three educational seminars, and my ministry is continuing these educational efforts by hosting the two day workshop in conjunction with the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)”.
Strachan said that “An International Arbitration Centre will provide a forum for rapidly and affordably resolving disputes, and it will provide an alternative to litigation thus increasing investor confidence.
“This centre will not only complement the legal profession, it will also allow us to capitalise on our pristine shipping registry and our maritime services, our foreign direct investment projects, and our financial services and international business initiatives”.
ICSID Secretary General Meg Kinnea said the workshop is aptly timed, given the Bahamas’ current objective.
“We knew for quite some time that we wanted to do a specific seminar in the Caricom region and given that The Bahamas is vying to become an international arbitration centre, we believe that this is an excellent opportunity for training for those individuals who would be participating in this area,” said Kinnea (left), who will also serve as the instructor for the workshop.