Hon. Jerome Gomez
The Consumer Protection Commission works to protect the public from merchants delivering shoddy products or poor service, and Chairman of the Consumer Protection Commission Senator the Hon. Jerome Gomez wants to ensure the public is aware of this.
The Commission, which is located in offices next to the Teachers & Salaried Workers Cooperative Credit Union, East Street South, is the agency tasked by the Government to protect Bahamian consumers from abuse in the marketplace.
During an interview at his office, Tuesday, September 27, 2016 Senator Gomez explained that the Commission was created by legislation (Consumer Protection Act 2006), and it has a broad function. These include:
1. To advise the Minister (refers to the Minister responsible for Consumer Affairs) generally in relation to consumer issues;
2. To formulate and implement standards in relation to the consumer protection policy;
3. To carry out, at the request of a consumer who has been adversely affected, such investigations in relation to the sale of goods or the provision of services as will enable it to determine whether the goods were sold or the services provided in contravention of the Act, and thereafter to make such report and recommendations in connection therewith as it deems appropriate to the Minister;
4. To carry out on its own initiative such other investigations in relation to the availability of goods of any class or description as it thinks, and make such report and recommendations to the Minister;
5. To promote the development of organisations formed for the protection of the consumer;
6. To collect, compile, analyse and publish information in relation to any trade or business;
7. To provide information to consumers on their rights as consumers and any other form of consumer education;
8. To resolve disagreements between consumers and providers; and
9. To carry out such other functions as the Minister may assign to the Commission from time to time.
Senator Gomez said, “We intend to look at all the issues that consumers have -- issues right down to even services delivered by the Government.”
He said, “I want to say to consumers that they can provide us with any kind of issues they have with the service delivery of the Government whether it is at Road Traffic, Passport Office, and Business Licence – wherever it might be.
“The Commission sees itself really not as only resolving issues, but bringing to light to a lot of companies and Government Ministries little things that they might need to fix that could create a better customer relation.”
He said it could be very little things that the Commission could impress upon the entities to fix that would really relieve some anxiety and stress to the consumer.
“We want complaints not only where you may have had issues with products and services, but just bring to our attention matters of delivery where you are waiting weeks or months for something or some service you expect even from the utility companies.
“If you apply for connection to the water supply or the Bahamas Electricity Corporation, or telephone service and that has been dragging along for a quite a time, let us know.”
The Senator explained that the Commission wants to be an advocate that goes to these companies and asks them to look at the service they are providing.
“If somebody wants to hook up to the electrical supply, why is it taking one month? Why is their water supply taking three months? We want to be able to help the consumer to get these things done.”
He noted however that sometimes companies and Government Ministries are so busy doing what they are doing regularly, that they do not see the kinds of issues happening in the way they deliver their services or so forth.
“We want to be the watchdog and point out how they can improve their delivery of service.”
By Llonella Gilbert
Bahamas Information Services
