Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 19, 2015 (SKNIS): The Department of Consumer Affairs, on Thursday (March 19), awarded several businesses for their outstanding service to consumers.
These businesses included, C & C Trading Ltd., Ashbury’s, KDP Enterprises, Church’s Chicken, Lucky’s Cosmetics, Rituals Coffee House, Sparrow Foods, Duty Free Shop and Pizza Boys.
The popular and eagerly contested Supermarket of the Year category saw shoppers casting their votes for their favourite retail outlet over a month. Winning by one vote, Ram’s Group of Trading and Company Ltd. took home the award.
The importance of giving consumers the ability to identify the businesses of their choice was outlined by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Charleton Edwards.
“What we are trying to do is build a positive relationship between businesses and consumers,” Mr. Edwards said. “We are trying to educate persons to understand that businesses and consumers have rights but if they can coexist then we would have a better business environment.”
The award ceremony was part of the March 15-20 activities to celebrate World Consumer Affairs Rights Day. The day is used to highlight areas where consumer protection is lacking and initiate discussions that could bring new or revised practices to better protect consumers.
The Permanent Secretary stated that “the week of activities has been remarkable.”
“The support that we have been given over the years has been tremendous and we are asking both the public and private sectors to continue to support our initiatives because it’s in the benefit of all of us,” he said.
The Minister of Consumer Affairs the Hon. Lindsay Grant’s radio and television address, a church service at the Antioch Baptist Church and a Consumer Information Programme and giveaway on ZIZ radio were held over the past couple of days. Upcoming activities include an open house on March 20 at the Consumer Affairs Department from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The theme for this year’s day was “Helping Consumers Choose Healthy Diets.”