It was fortuitous.
Back in 2001, while cooperating with an ODR pioneer in the United States, Online Resolution (OLR), presided by Colin Rule, I reached out to a number of arbitration and mediation providers in Latin America to present them with a web-based ODR platform few, if any, had seen before in Latin America, or elsewhere for that matter.
Mauricio Chabaneix Belling, President of the National & International Arbitration Center of the Chamber of Commerce of Arequipa responded with a great deal of interest to see ODR at work. I had no idea then that a lifetime friendship had begun.
Mauricio and I got to work, and we presented the first live ODR mediation ever to take place in Latin America at an online meeting connecting Madrid and Arequipa. The entire process was seen in large screen in the Chamber of Commerce of Arequipa by numerous judges, attorneys, business and civic leaders. It happened in October 2001.
It was too early to introduce ODR, not just Peru, but elsewhere in the world. Additionally, financing for online ventures dried out precisely at that time. It all happened too fast, and it was very difficult for most people throughout the world to assimilate so much internet. Internet was "interesting", but far from being commonplace. Be all as it may, that online presentation took place thanks to Mauricio, to his vision and innate curiosity for all that's around him.
Since then, Mauricio and I have coincided as speakers on ADR throughout Latin America on several occasions. He has been to my house and we have traveled some of Spain together; I have been to his house and I have traveled some of Peru with him and his family.
What is news? It is newsworthy to comment that Mauricio has just been named Chief of the Cabinet of the Council of Ministers of Peru by the President of the Republic of Peru, Ollanta Humala Tasso. I believe the equivalent in the US would be Chief of Staff. He called me to tell me about his appointment at about midnight New Year's Eve. I can't say I was surprised, because it is not the first time a government asks him to move to Lima from Arequipa to serve the country as a senior official at the highest level, because of his sharp intelligence and contagious dynamism.
Naturally, Mauricio's agenda would be that of the President's, but I am almost sure that he will promote a better knowledge, reach and use of ADR in Peru. Peru already employs mediation to resolve civil disputes and arbitration to resolve commercial disputes as well as disputes between the Public Administration and private sector providers in major infrastructure projects. That said, ADR support at such high a institutional level will surely contribute to strengthening its use.
José Antonio
Director
ADRResources (ARyME)
