SW Public Independent Conciliator : Councils Sensitised On Dispute Arbitration

City and local council officials from the six administrative Divisions of the South West Region assembled in Buea on 7 July, 2022, to imbibe the workings of the special status-born office of the Public Independent Conciliator (PIC). The meeting was styled a consultation seminar aimed at strengthening the understanding of the relationship between the new institution of the PIC for the South West Region and the various stakeholders.
Addressing the authorities of the 33 councils of the Region while opening the workshop, Mrs. Dorothy Atabong Motaze, the Public Independent Conciliator for the South West Region, saluted the massive attendance and underscored that it was immeasurably important and timely to have the session so as to clarify roles and learn from each other for the smooth functionality of the PIC Office. The PIC explained that it was a mechanism created by the State to examine and ensure out of court settlement in cases of misunderstanding and disputes between users and the local Council administrations. The PIC, being the privileged settlement arbitration office at the first instance, Section 13, paragraph three and four give it the prerogatives of recommendation or taking further action, she explained. She, however, cautioned that no case coming to her office should be undergoing any court action.
The theme of the come-together was ‘strengthening understanding of the missions of the office of the PIC vis-a-vis the Regional Assembly and Local Councils: 'laying the groundwork for positive collaboration to ensur...