OECS Media Release — Wednesday, February 2, 2022
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, in collaboration with the University of the West Indies Centre for Professional Development and Lifelong Learning, successfully trained 35 consumer affairs professionals across the 7 OECS Protocol Member States through a virtual short course titled ‘The New Era of Consumer Protection 2019 and Beyond,’ administered from January 17–28, 2022.
Participants from Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines had the opportunity to share experiences in line with consumer protection, learn from each other through simulation exercises, and submit group projects with key recommendations for consumer education. Course Lecturer Ayanna Young-Marshall said: “It has exceeded our expectations. During the course we identified common areas that affect consumers in different sectors like telecommunications, the airline industry, reconditioned vehicles, and tourism among others. We have established a consumer protection network for this course so we can move forward together.”
OECS Commission Director of Economic Affairs Jacqueline Emmanuel-Flood noted: “We are consumers. We are talking about our OECS economy. You the consumer protection professionals find yourselves as the protectors of our region’s consumers. It is a noble and complex task. You have to ensure that while you facilitate growth and development in-country, our people are not taken advantage of.” The OECS Commission will continue to support Member States in enacting model consumer protection legislation, public advocacy and consumer education initiatives.