October 31, 2002
JAMAICA’S CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY LEADS THE WAY...

 At CARICOM’s first meeting on the state of Consumer Affairs in the Caribbean, convened between October 21 and 22, the reliance on the expertise, leadership and input of Jamaica’s Consumer Affairs Commission was strongly noted in the form of a presentation by the Executive Director of the Consumer Affairs Commission, Angella Manning in her capacity as Chairperson of the Caribbean Consultative Consumer Committee.

While noting the strengths of various countries in the Region, Ms. Manning’s presentation pointed to the presence of loopholes and gaps in the overall framework of the Region’s legal system, particularly in relation to consumer legislation. “If left unmended, these gaps could lead to many adverse consequences for Caribbean Consumers, especially in light of plans for the CARICOM Single Market & Economy (CSME) and the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).” This concern was validated when it was brought to the meeting’s attention that of the 15 member states within CARICOM, all of whom are signatories to the 1985 United Nation’s Guidelines on Consumer Protection, only Trinidad and Tobago had implemented legislation that encapsulates the essence of the model consumer protection law set out by CARICOM.

The Caribbean’s slow movement toward consumer protection may stem from the lack of strong activism in the region, a factor that is not likely to change without strong government action. Although all member states have a Government Ministry and/or an agency with portfolio responsibility for consumer affairs, less than 50% of them have active non-government consumer lobby groups. However, the meeting ended on a high note with the establishment of an action plan, agreed on by the delegates present-a single move that has served to re-establish hope for the future of consumers in the region.

Other issues addressed at the meeting of just over thirty participants, amongst which were members of the CARICOM Secretariat, Heads of Government & Non-Government Consumer Organisations and Consumers’ International, were the establishment of the Caribbean Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), Regional accreditation bodies for standards and the implementation of consumer policies at the regional level. Concern was also expressed about the spread of HIV/AIDS within the region, as well as food security and safety.

Jamaica’s Consumer Affairs Commission will continue to work with Regional & International bodies in advancing consumer interests within the Region. Consumers’ International will convene its 5th Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean in Lima, Peru and has selected Jamaica’s Consumer Affairs Commission’s Executive Director, Angella Manning to represent the Caribbean in a panel discussion that will review accomplishments and chart the way forward in the struggle toward consumer empowerment.