Residents tired of empty promises for consumer protection bill
This is according to Honourable Marlon A. Penn, Junior Minister for Trade and Investment Promotion and Eighth District Representative, during the House of Assembly (HoA) in April where he called on Baba Aziz, Attorney General, to finish the draft of the consumer protection legislation.
Consumers have been begging for the current government to put legislation in place to penalise vendors who are being accused of inflating prices.
Following the August floods and the hurricanes of September 2017, prices for many essential items skyrocketed and nothing was done to protect the consumers who were in a perceived state of desperation.
Hon Penn stated that the consumer protection bill is very important especially due to the difficulties that were seen following Hurricane Irma.
He explained, “We saw what happened through the price gouging. Persons manipulated prices and did all manner of things during this very difficult period for consumers and residents of this territory and we want to make sure that this does not happen again.”
Even Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert promised that the bill will be ready before the end of this year during his Speech from the Throne in the House of Assembly on March 1, 2018.
The reality on the ground
The discussion of protecting consumers have been on the table for many years and to date, despite many promises from Government, consumer protection legislation has not been brought to the VI parliament.
Speaking with a number of residents who are dissatisfied with the absence of a consumer protection legislation, they all shared the same sentiments that the bill is “long overdue”.
In an invited comment with a resident who wished to remain anonymous, they said such legislation is “long overdue”, adding that it should not have taken this long to put forward a policy that protects the people of the territory.
“I hear them always coming in HoA talking that they going bring consumer protection bill to protect us but all now you can’t see a thing. The leader [Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL)] need to move fast on this legislation that is long overdue,” said Warren D. Richards.
Cheryl A. Winter told our newsroom that a restaurant she recently went to is selling a bottle of water for $3, while adding that you can get a Case for $5.
“We need this legislation because some business places prices on items are ridiculous. Can you believe that a restaurant selling one bottle water for $3 and you can get a case for $5? That’s a shame.”
Dora B. Hope said, “This bill has been around for years and still can’t make it to the House. So why should we even listen to them who we call our representatives that it will be ready by the end of this year? Another empty promise, while the people suffer.”
19 Responses to “Residents tired of empty promises for consumer protection bill”
check Dr. Walter Williams "There was no Jesus" no...is name was not Jesus...Check YouTube if you have internet lol
It’s politics time again now, who yah gonna vote fah....ndp government been in for two consecutive terms now so what’s all the BS about? Pass the damn law and setup the office to deal with violators and penalties for contravention. Ayo just like to collect a salary for doing didly squat and get up in the HOA to spew nothing tangible each and every time!
it supposed to be. and a samsung galaxy, much less in cost, lots of funny stuff. the lady is right about good costs
in the grocery store too. and there's much more - dumping a lot of money and whatever you buy doesnt work right
or isn't worth nearly the price. some defective items in the bvi, that the usa just dumps 'cause they're not wanted.
trash. love to get my money back too. and then there's this rent and landlord stuff keeps coming up for many
people. where's the police?
The long sufffering consumer need some relief; bring the CPA to the HOA now. The consumer need protection from price gouging, real estate rental, product exchange and return, property insurance, small claims resolutions, product safety, product expiration, auto repair, contract enforcement, price control, skyrocketing cost of living............etc. Though many residents are clamoring for price control, IMO price control does not work. Price control leads to shortages and poor quality. For example, if there is price control on cereal, businesses will procure and sell the cheapest cereal. Further, if there is price control on apartment rental, land lords will do the mere minimum or get out the business altogether, creating shortages. Minimum wage is a price floor mechanism that may hurt the very people that it was intended to help.
It isn’t. If you don’t like the prices something , don’t buy. And if government interferes and forces suppliers to make over the top guarantees it costs money and ultimately the consumer pays.