LUCEA, Hanover – Dispute Resolution Foundation trainer, Shauna Miller, has called for assistance to fund the Hanover Mediation Centre’s programme.

“We really want corporate Hanover to see the need for mediation and to join us in helping to train more mediators, and if there are people out there who in their workplaces need persons to be trained, do approach us, because we need the persons out there,” said Miller, who is also a trainer at the centre, which has been in existence for more than 17 years.

“We don’t just want to do mediation; we want to go out into the communities, we want to go out into the schools, we want to spread the whole thing of restorative justice and that is something else that we are doing. And we want to do workshops, but our hands are tied because we do not have funding. So we are calling upon corporate Hanover, [we are calling on] our politicians, and all those persons who love Hanover to help us in this process.”

Miller, who is also a teacher at the Green Island High School, was speaking with the Jamaica Observer West following the recent graduation of 11 mediators at the Lucea United Church in Hanover.

Although mediators are volunteers, Miller indicated that clients pay a sum of $2,000 which assists with stationery and other materials. The centre also receives funding from the Dispute Resolution Foundation, from friends and from Hanover Charities.

She emphasised that there is need for training in the parish in light of the increase in hostile behaviour.

“What we are seeing now is an increase in conflict in Hanover. Hanover is on the news in terms of gun crimes, reprisal killings, violence in schools, gang wars, and so we really see the need that we have to start training persons who can help in solving these conflicts before they spiral to the stage of death,” said Miller.

Meanwhile, graduates have commended the programme at the Hanover Mediation Centre.

“Training in mediation has been a rich experience for me, and I am certain for the rest of my classmates as well. It really has allowed us to realise that we have what it takes through mediation to make our own country a better nation,” said Victoria Hines, one of the graduates.

The Hanover Mediation Centre was started by former custos of the parish, Percival Miller.