Joint Media Release
The OHADAC Regional Arbitration Centre (CARO Centre), in partnership with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), will officially launch the “OHADAC–CARO training Programmes – Capacity Building on Arbitration and ADR in the Caribbean” at an institutional event to be held on Wednesday 10 June 2026, in the presence of H.E. Mrs. Marie-Noëlle DURIS, Ambassador of France to the Eastern Caribbean States, Barbados, and the OECS.
This event will mark an important milestone in the regional deployment of the programme. It will notably bring together Sir Dennis Byron, President of the CARO Centre, Board members Keats Compton and Jacques Darche, as well as Marie-Camille PITTON, Secretary-General.
Implemented under the Interreg Caribbean VI Programme and co-financed by the French Development Agency (AFD), this regional programme aims to strengthen local capacities in arbitration, mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) across the Eastern Caribbean, including Saint Lucia, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Its objective is to contribute to a more predictable, accessible and secure legal environment for businesses, investors, institutions and economic stakeholders operating across the Eastern Caribbean.
Strengthening access to justice and securing economic exchanges
In a context of growing regional and international trade, the ability to resolve commercial disputes effectively has become a key challenge for the Eastern Caribbean.
Arbitration and mediation provide complementary solutions to traditional court proceedings. Faster, more flexible and adapted to local economic realities, these tools help prevent or resolve disputes while strengthening trust between commercial stakeholders.
Through this programme, and thanks to the collaboration with the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, the CARO Centre and its partners aim to support the capacity building of legal professionals, public institutions, Chambers of Commerce and private sector stakeholders across the region.
A regional programme structured in several stages
Since the establishment of the partnership between the CARO Centre and the OECS, several major milestones have already been achieved.
The project first secured funding under the Interreg Caribbean VI Programme, formalised through the signing of the FEDER agreement in October 2024. It was then further strengthened by a co-financing agreement concluded with the French Development Agency in July 2025.
The CARO Centre has also reinforced its operational capacity through the recruitment of a dedicated team, including an OECS collaborator and a programme coordinator. In parallel, a working group composed of experts has been set up to assess the development of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms within OECS jurisdictions and to prepare future training programmes.
A first phase dedicated to training and awareness-raising
The first phase of the programme, which will begin in Saint Lucia on 10 June 2026, is dedicated to capacity building and awareness-raising among economic and legal stakeholders.
Tailored training sessions will be organised in collaboration with Chambers of Commerce, bar associations and partner institutions across the region. Their objective will be to raise awareness of arbitration and mediation tools and encourage their practical use by professionals and local institutions.
As part of this process, several preparatory meetings have already been held with key local stakeholders, including Mr Brian Louisy, Executive Director of the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.
The training sessions will be led by John Bassie and Charmaine Pemberton, with the support of the programme’s partners, in order to provide participants with practical tools tailored to the needs of Caribbean territories and the realities of dispute resolution within the region.
Concrete tools for regional stakeholders
The programme goes beyond awareness-raising. It aims to train local stakeholders, promote shared practices and make arbitration and mediation solutions more accessible to businesses, institutions and legal professionals.
By strengthening these mechanisms, the CARO Centre and its partners seek to enhance commercial certainty, improve investor confidence and support more efficient resolution of cross-border commercial disputes within the region.
Secretary-General at the CARO Centre, Marie Camille PITTON, said:
“This Programme marks an important step towards strengthening access to economic justice in the Eastern Caribbean. By developing local capacities in arbitration and mediation, we aim to provide economic and institutional stakeholders with concrete, effective tools adapted to the realities of the region.”
General Counsel at the OECS Commission, Mr. Dwight Lay, said:
“The strengthening of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms within the Eastern Caribbean is an important component of deepening regional economic integration under the OECS Economic Union. As Member States continue to expand commercial partnerships both within the Caribbean and increasingly with the African continent, the development of modern, credible and accessible dispute resolution frameworks will be essential to fostering investor confidence, facilitating cross-border trade and supporting sustainable economic growth across our region.