Mr. Giovani Francisca
In the conference room of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, on the morning of Tuesday, April 2nd, history was made in Anguilla when a Consumer Affairs Unit was launched.
Essentially, this long awaited Unit, the first of its kind in the Anguillian society, is an agency that will act as a watch dog to monitor the relationship between consumers and businesses, and basically regulate the amounts that Anguillian consumers are required to pay for commodities and services offered by local businesses. In essence, the Consumer Affairs Unit stands for “price control”.
The launch got underway as the Inspector of the Consumer Affairs Unit, Mrs. Jemmisa Graneau-Gumbs, delivered welcome remarks to the modest gathering. The Clerical Officer of the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACOCI) Karen Pina then offered a prayer before the National Song was played.
During her remarks Mrs. Graneau-Gumbs noted a salient point that “If there is a decline in the number of local stores due to an increase in the number of locals who choose to shop overseas, then access to vital supplies may become uncertain. Let’s look at restaurants, for instance? Can restaurants and local food providers thrive without access to necessary resources?”
“This scenario underscores the interdependence between merchants and consumers, as each relies on each other for sustained economic activity,” she explained. “Without customers, businesses will suffer, while without businesses consumers would lack access to essential goods and services.”
“This symbiotic relationship highlights the importance of fostering collaboration and mutual support within our community,” she stressed. “This is where your Consumer Affairs Unit comes in. We are committed to bridging the divide between the consumers in the public and the businesses community.”
Director of the Consumer Affairs Unit, Mr. Giovani Francisca, who is a former Customs Officer, presented an overview of the new agency.
Mr. Francisca noted that the Unit will be focusing on regulating gasoline prices in general, as well as the prices of food items in particular. He emphasized that the Unit of Consumer Affairs will employ three main tenets that would serve for fair price regulation: 1. Consumer Education; 2. Consumer Complaints, Investigation and Resolution; and 3. Monitoring Business Compliance, which will be governed by the Distribution and Price of Goods Act and well as the upcoming Consumer Protection Act.”
He acknowledged that research and consultation was made with other National Consumer Affairs Units in the region in order to derive information for devising an appropriate model to suit Anguilla’s needs. He stated that the Consumer Affairs Unit will be working in close partnership with internal departments such as Health Protection, Inland Revenue Department, Customs Department, the Statistics Department, the Company Registry and the Attorney General’s Chambers.
Other persons speaking at the launch included ACOCI’s Clerical Officer, Karen Pina; and a Public Representative, Mrs. Verlyndah Hodge.
In addition, the Honourable Premier and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Ellis Webster, commended Mr. Francisca as the “engine” that will keep the Unit running. “With his energy as Director of the Consumer Affairs Unit, we would be going in the right direction,” the Premier stated. He also complimented the skills and abilities of Mrs. Graneau-Gumbs: “With her experience as the Inspector, we will get the information we need to accomplish the necessary monitoring and enforcement,” he said.
“Consumers must have the confidence and assurance that Government is taking steps to protect their rights, and businesses and suppliers must be held accountable,” the Premier said. “There must be a comprehensive policy to address consumer rights and protections. This is where the Consumer Affairs Unit is essential.”
In addressing the legal properties of the Unit, the Premier insisted that the Unit will monitor and enforce the legislation which is drafted and passed, based on the Consumer Protection Policy which has already gone to Executive Council and has been adopted. He said that the legislation [to create the Consumer Protection Act] is now being written.
Anguilla’s popular playwright and dramatist, Mr. Felix Fleming, was present at the launch to recite a poem appropriately entitled “Protect the Consumer”, written by local renowned songwriter, Marvin Gumbs. That poem is presented elsewhere in this edition of The Anguillian.
