OECS taking Consumer Protection tips from Jamaica
As the territory charts its own way as it relates to establishing a consumer protection commission and tribunal, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is seeking technical support from the Jamaica Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) to improve the consumer protection environment in the eastern Caribbean.
A recent statement from the OECS said: “Jamaica Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is recognized as a best-practice in the region, with well-established databases and online applications for serving consumers.”
The OECS Commission met with Jamaica’s CAC in October to discuss their mobile app (which was launched in December 2019) and explore possible areas for collaboration to support Member States in advancing consumer protection in the region.
Initiatives to improve the consumer protection environment in the eastern Caribbean will be funded by the European Development Fund (EDF), which is the main instrument for European Union (EU) aid in places like the Caribbean.
Under the EDF, the OECS will be executing activities aimed at building capacity and improving efficiency in Consumer Affairs public offices in Member States as well as providing public advocacy support.
As one of the 11 members of the OECS, the BVI will benefit from these activities being organised by the OECS.
Director-General of the OECS, Dr Didacus Jules said he sees this collaboration as a critical step to strengthening the business environment in the Eastern Caribbean.
He said: “The 11th European Development Fund gives the region an opportunity to advance in critical sectors – one of which is consumer protection. We must ensure that all players in the business sector are represented fully so that we can build a formidable business space in the region.”
With support from the OECS, the BVI has been on its own journey to improve the local consumer protection environment. Earlier this year, the Consumer Protection Bill was debated in the House of Assembly.
Among other areas, the legislation will protect consumers against price gouging in the local market.
Premier Andrew Fahie has said the rising population of the BVI and the inflation concerns stemming from the 2017 hurricanes were some key factors that fueled its push for the Consumer Protection Bill.
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There is no consumer protection in the BVI and there never will be. The politicians and cronies are all owners of all the big businesses in the Territory. Does anyone think that there will be laws to protect the little guy? Of course not!! The laws are there to protect the businesses. How many of you were screwed by your insurance company after Irma? The government had the power to make those companies pay what was rightfully due to the insured. Did they? No of course not. Why? Look at who their friends are. Wake up people. The government is p**sing on you once again.
The BVI government must be brought to task for wilful neglect of roads and the subsequent destruction they are causing to consumers, their vehicles, to voters on the daily, and their property.
The condition of the roads is beyond deplorable, their neglect shameful, and the seemingly blind eye to the thoroughfare from east end to town is glaring.
VIP, please fix the roads. You campaign in all those communities for a job, they gave you the job, and that is how you repay them, with not a road that suffers from neglect every day they drive to work, as it destroys their vehicle?
Are we simply objects of votes to cast away until when next need? Do consumers have a right to functioning roads? Evidently not in the BVI.
The last time any road got any type of repair was two years ago, when they the NDP put on an onion skin to capture the people’s votes.
They the VIP will/are using the same old strategy as usual in/for the next two years.
Give them the voters a little crumb with a little glitter on top and they will forget that they went through two vehicles in four years, spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in front end, tires, shocks and suspension repairs.
Politicians do really think the masses are stupid. Then, it is unbelievable why people of this territory would not speak up about the deplorable condition of the roads they have to use daily.
The roads are in deplorable condition. Even the road to the airport, was one of the best and best maintained in now riddled with neglect.