Panama has taken an important step towards establishing the first dispute resolution centre in Latin America and the Caribbean, writes Rainbow Nelson. Representatives of Panama’s Supreme Court, Attorney General’s office, the City of Knowledge Foundation, the Panama Canal Authority and the Panama Maritime Authority have all signed an agreement to co-operate on the creation of a new institution that will develop alternatives to conflict resolution in the region.It has been one of the principal aims of the Panama Maritime Authority, Panama Chamber of Shipping and the Panama Maritime Lawyer Association to establish a maritime arbitration centre in the country, and the Learning Centre for Conflict Resolution (CERCA) will act as an important step.