Consumer Affairs Bill passed

The National Assembly in Guyana passed the Consumer Affairs Bill without amendments, on June 23, even as it passed through a special select committee. But the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is accusing the government of refusing to make any amendments to the bill.

PNCR Member of Parliament Mervyn Williams said that in the interest of Guyanese who are made to use public transportation, his party sought to intervene on this issue, seeking that provisions be made in the newly-passed bill to protect citizens from exploitation.

He expressed the view that the issue of hire purchase was not addressed in the legislation. Williams was equally surprised that there is no legislation that addresses this major issue. The bill was first read on April 28 and then on May 19, 2011. It was later referred to a special select committee despite receiving the support of the parliamentary opposition.

The report of the select committee was also adopted by the House before the bill was passed. Chairman of the Committee, Commerce Minister Manniram Prashad, in response, explained that the issue of hire purchase will be dealt with in separate legislation, given the seriousness of that issue.

According to Prashad, public transport, which he has been dealing with since at the level of the Chamber of Commerce and the Private Sector Commission, will also be a matter of priority and will also be addressed by the National Assembly.

“Mr Speaker, to tell the PPP/C administration about concerns for the poor is like telling the sun it must shine. Mr Williams stated that he was unaware of a few things, but even though I took the time to explain to him about the clauses in the bill, I’m surprised he still came here and rehashed the same old tune,” Prashad said.

The committee comprised Prashad, Local Government Minister Kellawan Lall, Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir, Junior Finance Minister Jennifer Webster; and Dharamkumar Seeraj of the PPP/ C, and Mervyn Williams, Clarissa Riehl and Joan Baveghems from the PNC/R. The Alliance For Change did not submit a nomination, since according to the party it had earlier supported the bill when presented to the House.

The Consumer Affairs Bill 2011 provides for the promotion and protection of consumer interests in relation to the supply of goods and services, and renames the Competition Commission the “Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission”, which shall administer both the Competition and Fair Trading Act 2006, and the Consumer Affairs Act when it becomes law. This bill is based on an earlier version of the Consumer Protection Act 2006, which was not brought into force. As it relates to enforcement of this bill, the commission may apply to the court for action to be taken against a person for compensation, damages, and any other remedies as it may see fit.

The commission also has the power to seek a warrant to enter a place to search for, or seize, goods on the basis of information received.

Penalties for breach of a provision under this law can range from Gy$20,000 to Gy$1,000,000 and up to one year’s imprisonment.