Consumers urged to be vigilant – DG Brown

Director General in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Vivian Brown is urging consumers to be vigilant and proactive in protecting their rights.

He further added that consumers must continue to ensure that unfair and misleading trading practices do not impair their ability to make informed choices when purchasing particular products or when accessing services.
The Director General who was representing the Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda at the official launch of Ms. Joyce Campbell’s book, ‘The Jamaican Consumer Story’, at the Olson Memorial Chapel, on Thursday, September 28, noted that, “as consumers, we need to know at all times precisely what we are paying for”.
According to Mr. Brown, now more than ever, consumers need organizations that they can trust, and organizations that have a track record of providing knowledgeable, fair and impartial advice and assistance.
“Consumer organizations such as the National Consumers’ League (NCL) and the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) are formed and framed to champion the rights of consumers. They may be working under different names and structures, but I believe that they serve one basic purpose, that is, to protect the rights of consumers”, he stated.

In the meantime, Political Ombudsman, Mrs. Donna Parchment-Brown who gave the keynote address lauded Ms. Campbell for her years of dedicated service, and sterling contribution as an advocate for consumer protection in Jamaica.
Ms. Joyce Campbell, a household name in Jamaica has worked tirelessly in advocating for consumers’ right, over the years. The Jamaican Consumer Story chronicles the history and development of the consumerism movement in Jamaica and is published by Pelican Publishers Limited.

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