Consumers Affairs Commision CEO Says Act To Be Updated

KINGSTON, Dec. 4 (JIS):

L - R: Andrew Evelyn - IT Head, Dolci Allen  - CEO,
Latoya Halstead - Director of Communications,
Dorothy Campbell - Senior Publation Relations Specialist, 

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of  the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC), Dolsie Allen, says the Consumer Protection Act is due to be updated.

Speaking at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’, Mrs. Allen said that in recent times there has been an increase in new consumer purchasing trends ranging from body enhancement services to online social media shopping.

 “As we speak, a review is being done on the clauses in our Consumer Protection Act, and we are going to be moving towards some level of amendment to the Act,” Mrs. Allen said.

She noted that the CARICOM ‘Model Consumer Protection Bill’ speaks to e-commerce and product safety, which should be included in the Jamaica Consumer Protection Act.

Meanwhile, Senior Public Relations Specialist at the CAC, Dorothy Campbell, said the consumer protection guidelines under the United Nations (UN) have broadened the scope of the Commission’s duties.

“Our duties are no longer simply on a reactive basis, where we seek protection for consumers after they’ve made a complaint. We work very closely with regulatory bodies to make sure consumers are protected, not after the fact. We try to be proactive,” Ms. Campbell told JIS News.