Basseterre, St. Kitts (SKNIS): Senior Minister and Minister responsible for Consumer Affairs, the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas, made an appearance on the November 01 edition of the radio and television programme Infocus to discuss imminent strides the government is taking to fortify consumer protection.
Addressing concerns surrounding consumer rights and safety, Dr. Douglas discussed the forthcoming Consumer Protection Bill, 2023, stating: “We want to say that apart from this piece of legislation, what else can we do to ensure that there is consumer protection?”
Minister Douglas outlined the government’s commitment to introducing robust policies to safeguard consumers. He confirmed that, in addition to the Consumer Protection Bill, the government has two major initiatives on its agenda.
Firstly, Dr. Douglas stated that the government is actively exploring the introduction of competition policy legislation. This initiative is poised to foster fair trade practices and competitive pricing, ensuring that the market remains consumer-friendly.
The second agenda item pertains to legislating against price gouging. Minister Douglas revealed that Paul Queeley, the Director of the Consumer Affairs Department, has undertaken comprehensive research on existing policies in the United States. Queeley’s findings are set to be reviewed by the Cabinet before being sent to the Attorney-General Chambers for further deliberation and action.
Dr. Douglas expressed gratitude towards the dedicated team at the Consumer Affairs Department for their tireless work.
“I want to thank the entire staff of the Consumer Affairs Department for their commitment to protecting our consumers,” he said.
Senior Minister Douglas said that through these concerted efforts, the government reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that consumers are well-protected and that their rights and interests are at the forefront of legislative and policy decisions.