Forced mediation should be last resort for feuding neighbours

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http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/forced-mediation-should-be-last-resort-feuding-neighbours-say-respondents

More than a year after the Government mooted the idea of mandating mediation for feuding neighbours, a six-week public consultation exercise has found that views are mixed as to whether this would be the best way forward.

Some mediators consulted saying that mandatory mediation might undermine the ethos of such a process.

And while a tribunal will be set up by the second half of this year to hear such cases before a judge, those who gave feedback felt adjudication should be the last resort and “upstream measures” are more important.

Currently, disputing parties who cannot resolve their problems privately or with the help of grassroots leaders may be asked to approach a Community Mediation Centre. However, mediation is voluntary and parties may not attend.

Under the new tribunal — announced in March — a judge would hear cases and have the power to give orders and sanctions, as well as compel parties to attend formal mediation. Failure to do so could result in prosecution.

Releasing a summary of the responses collected, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said respondents felt a tribunal should be the “last resort”, and that views were mixed on mandating mediation.

Those in favour of mandating mediation said the tribunal would be useful for bringing disputing parties together, but some trained mediators cautioned that mandatory mediation might undermine the ethos of the process and be abused by vindictive neighbours to punish another neighbour.

With respondents agreeing that “upstream measures” to resolve disputes early were important, the MCCY said this could include strengthening public education efforts and improving frontline responses.