SINGAPORE – 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.
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 nuisance-makers 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.
The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Ministry of Law and Ministry of National Development said in their statement on Aug 12 that more than 80 per cent of mediation cases handled by the CMC are amicably resolved.
Dr William Wan, chairman of the Community Advisory Panel on Neighbourhood Noise, said making mediation mandatory will mean that “more disputes will have the benefit of having a neutral third-party to facilitate discussion”.
“It will be too optimistic to say that the proposed amendments will solve all the disputes, but they will certainly move the needle forward,” he said.
Dr Wan said the proposed amendments align with values that the Community Advisory Panel on Neighbourhood Noise recommends to manage noise issues.
The panel’s recommendations include building good relationships with neighbours and practising considerate behaviour like keeping noise down at night.
“Encouraging community norms alone is not sufficient. You can recommend people to adhere to the norms, but unless there is some action by the authorities to provide teeth to guidelines, some may not take it seriously,” said Dr Wan.
Mandatory mediation a step in the right direction in solving neighbour disputes: Experts
