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BGYEA and GOB Can’t Meet In Mediation
posted (July 28, 2014)
Since BGYEA started challenging the Government over the land in the buffer zone for Harmonyville, the two sides can't seem to agree on anything else.

The ongoing court litigation has reached the point where Justice Courtney Abel believes that court-ordered mediation can yield a resolution.

We were outside of court today, when BGYEA and it's attorney emerged from the hearing, and their attorney told us that they certainly hope that the mediation will help:

Audrey Matura-Shepherd, Attorney for BGYEA
"Two orders were given by the court: the first one is a mediation order. Both parties, the attorney for the government and I, on the instruction of my clients, believe that it is a matter in the interest of all that can be settled. So we consented to mediation which will be worked out through the courts. That means we'll get an independent mediator to put the issue on the table and I think that's good, it's always good to try and settle your problems with talking because if you don't then the court will make a decision. The second order that was given is that in case the talk doesn't work out then there'll be full trial."

Isani Cayetano, Ch 5
"Is there a timeline when the mediation commences?"

Audrey Matura-Shepherd
"Yes. We must have mediation within 45 days from today."

Reporter
"And end?"

Audrey Matura-Shepherd
"Mediation is usually a day or two but when you go into the first day of mediation, depending how the dialogue is going on, you decide right there and then that you need an extra day or another two days or stuff like that. That how mediation works. It's a new process that the court has. It's a process that many people are exploring now to settle issues and so that's the first step. After the mediation if that doesn't work out then we go to full trial. In the meantime attorneys from both sides have committed to discuss the issue with each other and we feel that - if you look at the purpose why Harmonyville came about, if you look at what BGYEA was advocating for - it wasn't to be contentious with the government. And I am sure that when sober minds reflect on everything people want to sit back and see what it is that we were trying to do. What is it that the community is supposed to represent? Who are the people who will benefit? I am sure the government, as BGYEA feels, will want to make sure that people who are supposed to benefit from that community end up benefiting. That they don't get lost between a fight and that's what we are looking at."

The mediation must take place within 45 days, and if no resolution can be reached, then the case goes back to court for a full hearing.

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