The Canadian Government-funded project Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) hosted its second Arbitration Legislation Committee meeting to discuss drafting instructions for a Model Arbitration Bill.
The Arbitration Acts in CARICOM Member States are based on English arbitration legislation of 1889 and 1934, later consolidated into the Arbitration Act, 1950. The English have since modernized their Arbitration Act in 1996. Additionally, some 68 countries have modernised their arbitration legislation and adopted the UNCITRAL Model Law while the legislation in CARICOM Member States remains, for the most part, outdated.
The drafting of model arbitration legislation is part of the Project’s mandate to draft gender and environmentally sensitive model CSME and other laws for presentation to the CARICOM Legal Affairs Committee for approval. This is in keeping with the Project’s commitment to provide assistance to CARICOM Member States in formulating laws leading to cooperation and economic integration as a means of promoting greater integration and sustainable economic growth in the region.
The meeting took place on December 12th in Port of Spain and Committee members discussed and finalised drafting instructions for presentation to the legislative drafter. It is expected that the Model Arbitration Bill will be drafted by mid-2016.
