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Contact:
Virnet St. Omer-Fontenelle
Tuesday, October 19, 2004 – Saint Lucia’s representative at the recently
concluded CARICOM meeting on Consumer Affairs held in Guyana, Director of
Consumer Affairs Mr. Phillip Mc Lauren said Saint Lucian consumers can be
confident that their interest will be promoted and protected in the Community.
A fundamental principle of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) is the
free movement of goods and services. While this works to promote the
competitiveness of regional businesses, the region is also moving to ensure that
consumers have confidence in Caribbean business, as a way of ensuring the goals
of competitiveness.
The revised Treaty of Chaguaramas has made provisions for consumers under
articles 184 and 185, dealing with the promotion and protection of consumer
interest in the Community, respectively.
Mr. McLauren informed that the two articles of interest to consumers would be
given life in an extensive work programme, which is to be financed at a cost of
over US$800,000. The work programme for consumer protection deals with issues
relating to the legal framework for consumer protection in the CSME, the
promotion of consumer welfare and the protection of interest. “There are issues
regarding a “policy about dangerous goods, capacity building both for Government
agencies and NGO’s in the CSME, and economic integration in a safe environment,”
he added.
The CARICOM Single Market and Economy is set to come into effect on December 31,
2005.
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