Another Step in the Right Direction for Consumer Affairs in Montserrat
One of Montserrat’s Trade Officers is now better equipped to deal with the new realities of consumer protection on island, and by extension in the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union.
This follows a training, organized by the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, in collaboration with the University of the West Indies Centre for Professional Development and Lifelong Learning , as part of the OECS - EU RIGHT Programme.
Kamran Cabey was among 35 consumer affairs professionals across the seven OECS Protocol Member States, who was trained during the January 17 – 28, 2022 virtual short course, titled ‘The New Era of Consumer Protection 2019 and Beyond’.
The training saw participants from Antigua and Barbuda; the Commonwealth of Dominica; Grenada; Montserrat; St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Consumer Affairs professionals had the opportunity to share experiences in line with the subject matter on consumer protection, and learn from the experiences of all the Protocol Member States and Barbados, through simulation exercises.
Participants were able to submit group projects that made key recommendations for consumer education to engage stakeholders and to develop solutions for addressing pertinent consumer protection issues in various sectors in the OECS sub-region.
An action plan was also prepared to deploy the recommended solutions and consumer education activities.
Trade and Quality Infrastructure Officer Kamran Cabey shared his experience as a participant.
Kamran Cabey
The OECS Commission says it will continue to press ahead with providing continued support to the Member States in their enactment of model consumer protection legislation, support for public advocacy and consumer education initiatives, and build the necessary ICT solutions to help improve the quality of service issued by the Consumer Affairs Departments.
The Commission says this capacity building exercise, coupled with these upcoming initiatives, will surely improve the state of play for Consumer Protection in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU), through a comprehensive approach and inclusive structures.