CONsumer Rights Day!

 March 15th is Global Consumer Rights Day or Consumer Awareness Day!

Everyday of the year is another day with another "theme" or agenda to celebrate and causes to champion. In fact upon doing some research I found that there are multiple causes for each day ranging from the most trivial, fun and hilarious subjects to others that are more well known and regarded, historical and serious.

This Day for Consumer Rights was founded in part by President of the US John F Kennedy in 1962, earlier in the same year that Jamaica received "Independence".

Here in Jamaica I think there really needs to be more done to bring to consciousness the real need to fully comprehend the importance of Consumer Rights and Consumer Protection. This has always been a grey area, here as we are expected to disregard a lot of our rights here living in the "developing" world even our Human Rights, Constitutional Rights and Civil rights in general. But how much do persons really understand about the importance of their own spending power as Consumers and their right to chose or even to demand better?

I contacted the CAC (Consumer Affairs Commission) several times in recent years and thus far I am very disappointed with the level of service that they offer to enquirers. This office is part of the Ministry for Industry, Commerce (Agriculture & Fisheries) and is supposed to offer assistance to Consumers. I have contacted them about various matters but I found them to be only partially responsive. I received a response to my first email but then they didn't respond to my response and request for further information. 

Actually like a lot of Consumer outlets, Stores and Businesses here they seem to have the attitude that Clients must come to them and there is little effort made to reciprocate. The idea is that you can come in to their offices if you need advice or support as a Consumer. But as I stated to them if I am not in the Corporate area, or if I am not mobile or able to get there.  If I am outside of Kingston even, in other parts of Jamaica. This is still under the jurisdiction of the Government of Jamaica, once its within this nation. Then how do they intend to facilitate their customers or potential clients if they always expect persons to make the effort to come to their offices. There are telephones, computers all of these wonderful resources provided by the Government.  So how is it that the staff seem not interested in putting them to good use, for the use that they were intended.

In fact far too often I have seen Government staff enjoying using the facilities for their own personal needs, making personal calls on company telephones, as well as spending hours of time whilst they are at work looking at their smartphones.  Surfing the internet and basically taking advantage of the resources available to them, without any conscience or concern for their duties or responsibilities to the Citizens of Jamaica. 

In general there are a lot of negative habits that I have observed during my time here. Which I can compare to the general standards that I have seem when conducting business overseas. I have observed that there are a lot of companies here with "slack" standards that need to be redressed. But I am not working for or in the Government of Jamaica and therefore I can only comment or complain but I am not in a position to change anything. 

Still I have my rights as a Citizen here and as a person in general to have an opinion, and I think those who are in Government really need to start taking notice of what is going on in their own offices. So that they don't wait until there are bigger issues, a lawsuit or whatever it takes to bring the problems to their attention for constructive tangible changes to be affected.  

I will HIGHLIGHT and bring to attention, embarrass even if necessary those Private Companies and Businesses where I have experienced negative, neglectful and abusive behaviors. And post them here on the blog, or on my social media channels where I would normally voice my concerns.

PLS feel FREE to send me your comments, suggestions and to SHARE your own experiences also email: MsAMEdiaE@gmail.com