With the Consumer Protection Act, 2019—a bill proposed since 1995—now committed to a select committee, Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie in crediting his administration for bringing the Act into fruition, said the precious National Democratic Party (NDP) government had sabotaged its own efforts to get the bill off the ground. Photo: VINO/File

He said the government took on the challenges first by having consultations with both the Public and Business community led by Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development, Hon Sharie B. de Castro. Photo: VINO/File

Speaking at the Fifth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA), which resumed yesterday, Thursday July 25, 2019, amongst other setbacks such as conflict of interest, the Premier had previous said that had it been the NDP in power, the Virgin Islands (VI) would never be able to reap the benefits that consumer protection brings.

NDP frustrated efforts – Premier Fahie

“I am convinced that the previous administration and the elements of it sabotaged and frustrated its own purported efforts at bringing consumer protection,” the Premier told the house.

Citing media reports, the Premier pointed that Attorney General, Hon Baba F. Aziz had initially said the bill was delayed as a result of referrals to ‘non-existent body,’ the Trade Commission Co-Operation.

“What is interesting Mr Speaker, was that according to the report the Attorney General had to make a statement to… refute claims from the Junior Trade minister that the Honourable Attorney General was the cause of the delay in the bill,” he said.

The Premier Continued, “But Mr Speaker, in comes a new Government in February 2019, a government of Political will and no conflict of interest… and within a few short months, we are able to repair the legal conundrum in the words of the Honourable Attorney General and we are here with a functional bill to address the plight of the people.”

NDP wasn’t seeking solutions 

“Mr Speaker, if the NDP wanted a solution they would have found it, it was not that hard to find… it took only four months of this government being in office to get this bill ready,” Premier Fahie said. 

He said the government took on the challenges first by having consultations with both the Public and Business community led by Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development, Hon Sharie B. de Castro.

"The purpose of these sessions, Mr Speaker, was to increase public awareness and public education to get feedback from the population in regards to the draft bill before bringing it to the House of Assembly."

According to Hon Fahie, the views and concerns expressed by residents and members of the business were taken into account as the bill was reviewed with efforts made to incorporate as many of the feedback ideas as they could.