Experts welcome mandatory mediation in neighbour disputes

Proposed changes to the law that will make it mandatory for neighbours to iron out their differences through mediation will go a long way towards helping to resolve disputes, community leaders and experts said.

- Syarafana Shafeeq

Commenting on the suggested enhancements to the laws governing community disputes, community leaders and experts told The Straits Times that these would help address difficulties in getting parties to go for mediation.

Under the proposed changes to the Community Disputes Resolution Act, agencies such as the Community Mediation Centre (CMC) will be given the power to issue a mediation direction requiring disputing neighbours to go for mediation. Those who fail to comply can be fined up to $1,500.

The changes also stipulate the formation of a new Community Relations Unit, which can issue abatement orders in severe noise disputes to compel nuisancemakers to stop. Not following an abatement order can result in a fine of up to $10,000 for a first offence.

The changes were announced on Aug 12 and will be tabled in Parliament later in the year.

At the moment, less than 30 per cent of dispute cases between neighbours proceed to mediation at the CMC, even though mediation has been shown to be effective. Currently, mediation at the centre is voluntary.