VI needs Consumer Protection Laws—Queen Shereen
The view was expounded recently by Shereen D. Flax-Charles also known as Queen Shereen, when she appeared as a guest on Honestly Speaking , with Claude Skelton Cline on his radio programme on Tuesday, September 24, 2018.
According to the ‘Queen’ the consumer protection challenge in the VI has to we change.
“We suffer so much…..We really need to make a change and get it in place…I don’t know why it’s taking so long.”
She spoke to the fact of having to purchase basic drugs such as Tylenol overseas, because it was too expensive in the VI.
Totally Backwards
“What I find, that the items you really need the most, the prices are always very high and the time has come and passed that this Consumer Protection Bill should be passed in the House (of Assembly) so the persons in our communities can get relief.”
She related that tourists continue to query, “how can you afford to live,” in the VI.
She said, “we just are totally backwards.”
The two agreed that the time is not now to complain about whose fault it is “fix it.”
According to Queen Shereen, “ I don’t want o hear about what happen 20 years ago, what some Minister didn’t do when he was in power…these are the issues that are facing us now, let’s fix it.”
Learning from the past, she said can be had, but the constant going backward to figure out who was to be blamed when people are here suffering because the Territory is not moving forward “this needs to be fixed let’s just get it done.”
Broken Promise
The National Democratic Party (NDP) which took power in 2011 promised a Consumer Protection Bill but is yet to produce a draft.
There has however been a public fight between the Junior Minister of Trade and Consumer Affairs, Marlon A. Penn (R8)and the Attorney General, Baba Aziz over that piece of legislation.
10 Responses to “VI needs Consumer Protection Laws—Queen Shereen ”
Genrally, a CPA can stop unfair, deceptive and fradulent business practices, investigate unfair, deceptive, fradulent...etc complaints, take actions against violators and set rules to maintain a fair market place. Undoubtedly cost of living is skyrocketing; it is stressing all consumers but it is especially hard on consumers at the lower rungs on the economic ladder. Suspect that many consumers are looking to the CPA as a price control mechanism that will bring them some relief. However, the CPA is not a panacea for price control. Price control (ceiling or floor on prices) often brings shortages and poor quality products and services. For example, if there is price control on corn beef, merchants will carry the cheapest and poorest quality brand, if they carry corn beef at all. Some merchants may leave the market altogether. Basic economics states that more will be demanded at a lower price and less demanded at a higher price. Similarly, more is supplied at higher price and less supplied at a lower price. An example is the minimum wage. Less labour is demanded at a higher wage, hurting the workers it is intended help.
Moreover, fair pricing, less greed and a strong dose of competition are what is needed to reduce the cost of living. Nothing makes one appreciates ones job more than a strong dose of unemployment. Similarly, nothing makes greedy merchants lower their prices than a strong dose of real competition. Consumers need to reward merchants who offer fair and reasonable pricing.
Consequently, it will take government interference in the market place if any relief for the suffering consumer will happen. A healthy dose of socialism is needed. Capitalism is not helping the suffering consumer. We can debate socialism vs capitalism. Let the arrows fly but not only check the dislike block (which is easy) but also provide a reasoned reason for pricing structure.