We have been training community mediators in Grenada and St Kitts over the past month. The participants come from all walks of life and include teachers, pastors, retired government employees, social workers, police officers and youth workers. Many of the fact scenarios we have used in our role plays have their roots in North American culture but play out in any culture… some differently… but there are many universal similarities, one of which is food.
Some of you may have read in previous blogs about our neighbour with the barking dog and the other neighbour who sent an anonymous letter complaining about the noise. While the reaction in both countries was to say that dogs in the Caribbean live outside and bark, they all recognized that the real root of the conflict was the fact that neither neighbour had reached out to the other with a gesture of “welcome to the neighbourhood” or “hello I am your new neighbour”. Not surprising. We have enjoyed wonderful local dishes throughout our time here from freshly caught fish with coconut curry sauce to grilled lobster and conch fritters. But, the one angry neighbour in the role play exclaimed, “they didn’t even bring over a lasagne”. While 5 hours air travel north this would have been my mother’s welcome food of choice, it was a reminder of how some things tie us all together. Who would have thought it would be lasagne!!!!
 Elizabeth Hyde is the Principal of Medius Dispute Resolutions, the Executive Director of mediate393 inc. and an associated mediator, arbitrator, and parenting coordinator with Riverdale Mediation Ltd. Elizabeth’s practice is focused on providing effective and informed family mediation involving parenting plans, child and spousal support and property division.
