The Supreme Court of Barbados’ Mediation Department has launched a logo competition for youth aged 18 to 35, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment.
The competition, which forms part of the Department’s broader initiative to engage the public and raise awareness of mediation services in Barbados, offers young designers, the opportunity to win a cash prize of $2, 500 BBD and have their logo represent the nation’s growing mediation programme.
In his remarks as Chair of the competition’s planning committee, Mediation Coordinator, Theo Franklyn, emphasised the competition’s value as a tool for meaningful connection with our young people.
Mr. Franklyn reiterated that “mediation is a vital tool for peaceful conflict resolution”, and stated that he hoped that this competition would not only help to strengthen the identity of the Court-Annexed Mediation programme, but also allow young Barbadians to actively contribute to the Department’s mission of fostering harmony and mutual understanding.
Director of Youth Affairs, Cleviston Hunte, stated that the Ministry strongly supports the effort, not only in terms of the logo competition but also in terms of the whole mediation programme.
Mr. Hunte noted that for him, as a former probation officer, “he was acutely aware of the benefits of mediation to solve matters between parties where persons were brought into a non-threatening environment where they could feel comfortable to resolve matters in a way that all parties were satisfied with the outcomes”.
Mr. Hunte emphasised that the Ministry was ready and eager to assist, wherever feasible, to ensure the initiative’s success, as this effort clearly aligned with the Ministry’s core values, which are key to establishing strong communities.
He further added that the competition is consistent with the Ministry’s objective of empowering young people and encouraging civic engagement through positive, constructive pathways.
The Director continued: “We feel that integrating young people in events like this not only develops their talents but also fosters a culture of discourse and peace among our society’s future leaders.”
In his remarks, former Chief Justice Sir Patterson Cheltenham, who is also a certified mediator, acknowledged the competition’s benefits as a vehicle for educating the general public about what was involved in the mediation process.
Sir Patterson stated that he was pleased that the competition was primarily aimed at a younger demographic, as he believed that exposing young people to the concepts engendered in alternative dispute resolution would have a positive effect on reducing the number of cases that came before the court for litigation.
Chief Justice Leslie Haynes emphasised that he believed that Court Annexed Mediation was one of the cogs in the machinery that should be employed to administer justice.
Mr. Justice Haynes insisted that a modern judiciary must incorporate some form of alternative dispute resolution, beginning with Court Annexed Mediation. He believes that this mediation must be added to the court’s standard procedures along with its traditional methodologies.
He added that mediation has the added benefit of allowing disputes to be resolved while maintaining relationships that are critical to community harmony, with a key factor being that mediation, by its nature, was not limited to the confines of court but could be conducted anywhere, relieving individuals of the perceived stress associated with appearing in court.
The Chief Justice reiterated his support for the competition. He further stated that he believed that the success of the logo competition would not only go a long way towards promoting the identity as well as the vision and mission of the Mediation Department, as well as that of the Supreme Court.
He further suggested that a successful mediation department would go a long way to enhance and strengthen the judiciary by providing another avenue for the swift dispensation of justice.
He advised contestants to draw inspiration from the legal system, mediation principles, and Barbadian culture in order to create a final design that would be instantly recognised and perfectly embody the values and befits of conflict resolution.
Young designers are encouraged to submit their entries by emailing them to mediation.coordinator@barbados.gov.bb by Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
The winner will be announced during the Mediation Week celebrations in October, with the winning design being revealed at a special reception. The new logo will become a permanent symbol of the Mediation Department’s work in advancing dispute resolution across Barbados.