::The Consumer Affairs Commission

CAC TO GET MORE TEETH

Published in the The Observer on July 24, 2003

Vendors who fail to deliver items purchased by consumers or obstruct them in obtaining fair redress, will find themselves in trouble with the law once the legislative powers of the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) have strengthened.

The Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology is now moving to have the Consumer Protection Act enacted, to give more powers to the Government watchdog agency.

A ministry paper recently table by Minister of Commerce, Science and technology, Phillip Paulwell, Said the application of sanctions against vendors would be supplemented with ongoing programmes geared toward educating consumers and business persons.

The programme of educational services, according to the ministry paper, are being offered mainly through radio and television, including cable as well as the cinema. The CAC also operates a website, through which overseas Jamaicans are reached, and last year produced and published seven new brochures, bringing the total number to 48.

The CAC’s consumer education programme is structured around the Charter of Rights of the consumer and United Nations Guidelines for consumer protection to which Jamaica became signatory in 1985. The Charter recognizes eight rights of the consumers. These are rights to safety, to choose, to be informed, to be heard, to redress, satisfaction of basic needs, a healthy environment, and consumer education.

While the boundaries of the CAC do not extend beyond Jamaican waters, the watchdog agency is said to be relied upon by various agencies within the Caribbean and Latin America region, to provide guidance, support and comments on a range of consumer issues of global concern.

During the fiscal year 2002/03 the CAC resolved 2,347 or 91 percent of a total of 2,579 complaints handled; and received refunds of over $6.7 million, in addition to rebates, returns and exchanges, which were negotiated on behalf of aggrieved consumers.

The ministry paper also said that the CAC educated an estimated 38,000 consumers at 177 events, in all 14 parishes.

Updated by: Consumer Affairs Commission - RIC Unit (July 2003)