'Consumer Protection Act, 2019' to get 2nd & 3rd Readings today, May 28
The bill was tabled for first time in the HoA by Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) in May, 2019, just over two months after his party swept to power at the February 25, 2019 elections.
Following debates on the bill in July 2019, the Bill was sent to a Select Committee of the House of Assembly to finalise more policies and was returned to the HoA for its First Reading in November 2019.
According to the Order Paper for today’s proceedings, “The Premier and Minister of Finance [is] to move a motion for the Second and Third Readings of the Bill entitled, “Consumer Protection Act, 2019”.
NDP Gov’t left citizens at mercy of unscrupulous business persons- Premier Fahie
During the Fifth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) on Thursday, July 25, 2019, Premier Fahie had said the failure by the last administration, the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government, to implement consumer protection legislation left citizens at the mercy of certain unscrupulous business persons, even during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives- in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria.
He said after the hurricanes of 2017 there were reports of certain businesses hoarding goods and engaging in price gouging. “The prices to items that were essential to surviving such as food stuff, water, cleaning supplies, candles and matches, were hyped up on a desperate population, and those were just to name a few.”
According to the Premier, it was no secret that many citizens felt the reason consumer protection never made it off the ground was because of conflict of interest.
There have been some reports of price gouging in the Virgin Islands during this global coronavirus pandemic.
BVI Airways report
Also today, according to the Order Paper, Premier Fahie will lay on the table the Auditor General’s Report on the former NDP Government’s financing of BVI Airways’ Direct Flights to Miami.
The HoA meeting will be carried live on CBN Channel 51 and streamed on the House of Assembly’s Youtube page. It is expected to begin at 10:00 AM.
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6 Responses to “'Consumer Protection Act, 2019' to get 2nd & 3rd Readings today, May 28”
The younger taxi drivers have started to undercut the expensive prices charged by the older guys - and they are more helpful. They want to do more rides at less costs, earn more money, and spend less time sitting at the taxi stand waiting for one or two expensive rides a day. More competition please.
Without legislated control, prices will continue to be driven by supply, demand, competition, drive for excessive short-term over reasonable profit......etc. True, consumers, especially those at lower end of the economic ladder, need urgent relief from the skyrocketing cost of living. Nonetheless, price control may not totally meet the intended purpose; it often results in shortages and poor quality. For example, if there is price control on corn beef, merchants will probably import the poorest quality and cheapest brand.
Further, some items they will not carry at all. Moreover, many in the labour force are non-skilled and may be earning $6.00 per hour, the current minimum or near minimum wage. Clearly, this is not a living wage. Minimum wage raised significantly, it could harm the people it is intended to help. Raising the minimum wage could result in less hires, increase in business labour expense, increase in prices.......etc.
It will take both government, along with business owners, actions to bring down the cost of living that is exponentially rising. Actions are also needed to sustain lowered cost of living.
Moreover, the consumer protection bill hopefully will detail responsibilities for both businesses and consumers in the delivering of goods and services. Consumers should expect that products or services purchased should be safe and of the quality agreed to and normally expected, service providers meet their contractual obligations..........etc. Finally, I hope that the consumer protection bill will bring quick relief to the long, long suffering consumer.