CSME

Consumer Complaints and Enquiries Desk

Mission Statement

To keep consumers informed and abreast of new developments in the market and provide advocacy and representation to ensure that they are not disadvantaged by their lack of knowledge of their rights while actively pursuing the formation of a formidable organisation for developing and maintaining consumer rights.

Introduction

It is an understatement to say that Barbados needs a strong consumer body to take it into the CSME. In the past, countries invoked their sovereignty to protect their economies. Today, protectionism in trade is fast becoming a thing of the past.

In modern day international agreements, no longer can Government's legislation and policy reflect protectionism and therefore economies are open to some perils including dumping and unfair advantage.

In today's world therefore the only legal form of economic sustainability can be found in consumer choice but by the same token consumer choice can serve to perpetrate disadvantages to the economy and result in unduly poor performances if consumers are not aware of the importance of supporting their own economic activity.

Another feature of consumer choice is the natural weeding out of inferior goods and services. This underscores the importance of competition in the market or giving he consumer more choices and options.

Consumer education is of paramount importance as we hasten to remove barriers to trade; tariff or non-tariff barriers. The building of a strong consumer organisation in Barbados is well behind schedule.

The Consumer Desk

The CCED is made up of a core group of persons who worked together during the telephone rate hearing, most of whom were intervenors with a strong sense of commitment to consumer rights. The experience of being part of the rate hearing inspired the group to do more for consumers and the establishment of the desk was a natural progression.

Since the formation of the Desk we have handled a few complaints all of which were amicably settled in favour of the complainants. The idea behind the establishment of a desk is to build strong consumer organisation. The history of the formation of consumer organisations in Barbados reveals that the idea of a consumer body is a popular notion.

They start out with membership drives which are successful but then they are not sustainable and phase out after a short time because of lack of organised activities and a method of committing members to the organisation.

BANGO therefore proposes to attract committed persons to the Consumer Desk who can give of their time, skills and expertise to develop the services being offered by the desk and engage actively in negotiations, advocacy and representation on behalf of consumers in Barbados both individual citizens and at the national level.

The parallel to this can be observed in

Objectives

The CCED was established:

To provide a launching pad for a vibrant consumer organisation in Barbados .
To provide services which would result in benefits to consumers in general and advance the interests of consumerism.
To sensitise citizens about issues that impact on consumers.
To print pamphlets, booklets, brochures or any other documents or that will promote public intelligence on consumer interests.
To develop programmes, articles, documentaries, infomercials, web pages, etc. to sensitise, enlighten and educate the citizens of Barbados about consumer benefits, rights and related matters.
To provide representation and advocacy to consumers in their quest to enforce their rights and to seek justice.
To provide arbitration and negotiation services to consumers and generally intervene on their behalf whenever necessary or at the request of the consumer.
To ensure that consumers are not disadvantaged by their inability to articulate their complaints and grievances.