About Programme Panels Speakers Register
Ministry of Economic Affairs
MACADRI
ICSID · World Bank Group

Future of ISDS
in The Bahamas

The Future of ISDS in Afro‑Caribbean and the Americas Trade Transactions

9 March 2026

Margaritaville Beach Resort

Nassau Bahamas

Registration Closes Friday, March 6th, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST • Limited Seats
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About the Conference

The Future of ISDS in Afro‑Caribbean and the Americas Trade Transactions

Mid-Atlantic Caribbean Alternative Dispute Institute (MACADRI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and with the support of International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), is pleased to host a conference that will bring together high-level government officials as well as practitioners from The Bahamas to discuss the potential for The Bahamas to become a hub for Investor-State Dispute Settlements (ISDS) originating from Afro-Bahamas/Caribbean/Americas trade, and foster a more integrated African-Bahamas/Caribbean/Americas economic dialogue.

ICSID is an independent arm of the World Bank established by States to encourage private foreign investment. Today, it is the world’s leading arbitral institution for Investor-State disputes, administering roughly 70% of all known cases under investment, contract and law.

This is a must-attend event for the business community, policy and decision makers on ADR and legal professionals interested in current legal frameworks, debates and developments in international arbitration in The Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Americas, Africa and beyond.

🧑‍⚖️
Keynote Speaker
Meg Kinnear

Former Secretary-General of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) · World Bank Group. A leading global authority on investor-state arbitration, bringing decades of experience shaping international dispute resolution frameworks worldwide.

Monday, 9 March 2026

Conference Programme at a Glance

Timing Session
8:00 – 8:45 AM Registration & Continental Breakfast Moderator: Hon. Senator Barry N. GriffinChairman, The Bahamas Trade Commission · Vice President of the Senate
9:00 – 9:15 AM Opening Remarks The Rt Hon. Philip Edward Davis KCPrime Minister, Commonwealth of The Bahamas
9:15 – 10:00 AM Keynote Address Meg KinnearFormer Secretary-General of ICSID · World Bank Group
☕ Coffee Break — 15 minutes
10:15 AM – 12:00 PM Panel 1 — The Bahamas as an ISDS Hub Fireside Chat: Economic Paths of Africa & the Caribbean — Untold Stories of Challenges & Prospects Interviewer: Werner GrunerHonorary Consul for South Africa Senator, the Hon. Michael Brian HalkitisMinister of Economic Affairs John RolleGovernor, Central Bank of The Bahamas Jose Luis Saboin, PhDIDB Bahamas Country Representative, Inter-American Development Bank Kemi Kale, PhDChief Economist, Afreximbank
🍽 Lunch Break — 1 hr 30 min
1:30 – 3:00 PM Panel 2 — Investor-State Dispute Resolution Common issues, lessons learned, and overlap in the Caribbean and Africa Moderator: Dancia Penn KC OBEFormer Attorney General, BVI Githu MuigaiFormer Attorney General, Republic of Kenya Judge Olufemi EliasAd hoc Judge, International Court of Justice Edward W.F. Luke IILuke & Associates, Botswana
☕ Coffee Break — 15 minutes
3:15 – 4:15 PM Panel 3 — Dispute Avoidance & the Coordination and Response System “The Peruvian Model” – The State Commission for the Management of Investor-State Disputes Mónica Guerrero AcevedoPresident, The State Commission for the Management of Investor-State Disputes, Republic of Peru
4:15 – 5:15 PM Panel 4 — Investor-State Mediation Dispute Moderator: Rubie Nottage (Ret.J)University of The Bahamas Teresa ChengSecretary General, International Organization for Mediation, Hong Kong Madeline Kimei, FCIArbFounder & Principal Director, iResolve Limited, Tanzania Caryl Lashley, FCIArbFounder, ADR Bahamas
Conference Panels

Panel Speakers & Topics

10:15 AM – 12:00 PM
01
The Bahamas as an ISDS Hub
Fireside chat on the economic paths of Africa and the Caribbean: Untold Stories of Challenges & Prospects.
Werner Gruner
Interviewer
Honorary Consul for South Africa
Senator, the Hon. Michael Brian Halkitis
Minister of Economic Affairs
John Rolle
Governor, Central Bank of The Bahamas
Jose Luis Saboin, PhD
Bahamas Country Representative, Inter-American Development Bank
Kemi Kale, PhD
Chief Economist, Afreximbank
1:30 – 3:00 PM
02
Investor-State Dispute Resolution
Common issues, lessons learned, and overlap in the Caribbean and Africa. Dispute resolution in the Caribbean.
Dancia Penn KC OBE
Moderator
Former Attorney General, BVI
Githu Muigai
Former Attorney General, Republic of Kenya
Judge Olufemi Elias
Ad hoc Judge, International Court of Justice
Hon. Senator Barry N. Griffin
Chairman, The Bahamas Trade Commission
Edward W.F. Luke II
Luke & Associates, Botswana
3:15 – 4:15 PM
03
Dispute Avoidance & the Coordination and Response System
“The Peruvian Model” – The State Commission for the Management of Investor-State Disputes.
Mónica Guerrero Acevedo
President, The State Commission for the Management of Investor-State Disputes, Republic of Peru
4:15 – 5:15 PM
04
Investor-State Mediation Dispute
Rubie Nottage (Ret.J)
Moderator
University of The Bahamas
Teresa Cheng
Secretary General, International Organization for Mediation, Hong Kong
Madeline Kimei, FCIArb
Founder & Principal Director, iResolve Limited, Tanzania
Caryl Lashley, FCIArb
Founder, ADR Bahamas
Who Should Attend

Built for Decision‑Makers Across Sectors

🏛️ Government Officials & Policymakers
📊 Trade & Investment Authorities
⚖️ Arbitration & Mediation Professionals
💼 Corporate Counsel & Legal Practitioners
🌐 Business Leaders in Cross‑Border Investment
Join the Conversation

Register for ISDS 2026

Secure your seat at the most important ISDS conference in The Bahamas, the Americas, Africa and beyond.

Registration Closes Friday, 6 March 2026 at 5:00 PM EST • Space is Limited
or submit below
Venue
Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau
Date
Monday, March 9th, 2026
Sessions Begin
8:00 AM
Registration Deadline
March 6th, 5:00 PM EST