BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – TODAY (Mar. 15) is celebrated throughout the world as World Consumer Rights Day and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has rolled out a week of activities to highlight buyer issues in relation to financial services.
This year, the annual occasion is celebrated under the theme ‘Our money, our rights’ and comes during the 50th anniversary of Consumers International, the only independent global organization advocating for consumers. Last year, the international body launched a campaign to stop the marketing of unhealthy food to children and this year a focus on the rights and responsibilities of consumers is at the forefront.
Minister responsible for Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris said this year’s theme is “highly relevant” in the context of the global financial and economic crisis that has severely affected the incomes of consumers worldwide.
Harris admonished consumers to understand their basic rights and responsibilities under the United Nations guidelines for Consumer Protection and entrenched in the Consumer Affairs Act of 2003.
“We as consumers must exhibit increased financial discipline in order to ensure that our hard earned incomes continue to provide us with a high degree of satisfaction as we purchase safe and good quality goods and services.
“In these times it is imperative that as consumers we effectively manage our limited incomes in a sensible and sustainable manner to ensure our survival in this tight financial environment,” Harris stated in his address for the annual observance.
In his address, Harris revealed an “interesting and beneficial” week of events to raise awareness of consumer rights and responsibilities.
Today and tomorrow (Mar. 16), officers of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce will make visits to the schools and the industrial site, making presentations under the themes ‘The Rights and Responsibilities of our Youngest Consumer’ and ‘Money Management Tips for Wise Economical Spending’, respectively.
On Wednesday (Mar. 17), the ministry will launch “Consumer Matters”, a new radio programme to discuss consumer issues. This launch will take place on ‘Hard Talk’ with Junie Liburd on Sugar City Roc. Several appearances on television and radio will be made throughout the course of this week.
Additionally, a panel discussion on ZIZ radio on Thursday evening will set the stage for Friday’s (Mar. 19) Consumer and Health Awareness Day event in Independence Square. All are invited to participate in these events.
World Consumer Rights Day was first observed in 1983, and has since become an important occasion for mobilising citizen action.
