Dispute resolution partnership launched in Guyana

…Dialogue Solutions (Guyana) to provide easier access to world-class mediation and arbitration services 

Dialogue Solutions Ltd, a dispute resolution company in Trinidad and Tobago, has partnered with Guyana to create the company Dialogue Resolutions (Guyana) thereby increasing access to world-class dispute resolution services to Guyana and others in the Caribbean.

Dialogue Resolutions (Guyana) was virtually launched on Thursday chaired by its Director, attorney Nigel Hughes. Meanwhile, key speakers included Attorney General, Anil Nandlall; former president of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Sir Denys Bryon; General Manager Corporate and Investment Banking Republic Bank, Richard Sammy and Chairman of Dialogue Solutions, Reginal Armour S.C.

It was explained that with a rapid increase in foreign and domestic investment in Guyana due to the oil and gas sector, many joint ventures are being formed. As in many cases in doing business, this will likely lead to a steep increase in demand for the inclusion of arbitration and dispute resolution terms in commercial agreements.

While, traditionally, most agreements include provisions for arbitration and dispute resolution solutions that are extra-regional and in New York, London or Paris, the need was realised for better options suited to the Caribbean region.

It was from this aspiration that Dialogue Solutions Ltd, a regional company, was formed. It boasts a panel of experts who are available to provide professional dispute resolution services which include arbitration, mediation, expert determination, dispute adjudication and neutral analysis services.

It has now partnered with a Guyana company to create Dialogue Resolutions (Guyana).

In his opening remarks, Hughes established that according to the World Bank, Caribbean countries do not rank among the highest when it comes to the ease of doing business which ought to be changed.

Meanwhile, he said that it takes approximately 581 days or one and a half years to resolve a dispute in the courts.

“The time has come when the Caribbean has the ability to provide comparable world-class arbitration, expert determinations, dispute adjudication boards, mediation and neutral non-binding analysis services region and international business community,” he said.

“It is with this vision that Dialogue Solutions Ltd will offer to the Guyanese marketplace a world-class, high-quality panel of experts that are available to provide professional dispute resolution services …”

Taking the baton from Hughes, Sir Denys Bryon said that the launch marked an inspiring occasion for Guyana and he is happy to see the capacity for dispute resolution being advanced.

Speaking too, Guyana’s Attorney General, Anil Nandlall said that the Government of Guyana welcomes Dispute Resolutions (Guyana) which comes at an opportune and strategic time in Guyana’s history.

He said that the Government of Guyana has recognized that there is a need to restructure and modernize its legal and other infrascture in the country to make it conducive to the transformation coming to the country.

Nandlall said that he believes there is sufficient talent in the Caribbean that the region can create all the infrastructures needed to ensure effective and competent settlement of disputes that are available in other parts of the world.

“We are happy that Dialogue Solutions is entering the arena in Guyana and we see that it is doing so at a very opportune moment. I want to assure you, in my continued remarks, that the government is aligning to the realities that requisite, and is committed to the establishment of an environment that will make Dialogue Solutions a very important agency in going forward,” he said. The AG also relayed President Irfan Ali’s well wishes who he said has asked for a regular update on the developments which the Government supports.

Richard Sammy, in his remarks, said that Dialogue Solutions will prove important to the Guyanese business society and he is very excited to see its development.

He said: “I am certainly urging the business community in Guyana to adopt an understanding, learn about it, and start incorporating it into your business, into the DNA of how you live and work and engage with internal and external stakeholders.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of Dialogue Solutions, Reginal Armour informed the attendees that good businesses understand that conflict resolution is imperative for parties to continue to do business and to progress towards an amicable resolution. He said this is what Dialogue Solutions provides and he is excited to see it improve the business landscape not only in Guyana but the Caribbean region.