The Tribune

By Llonella Gilbert

Bahamas Information Services

THE Consumer Protection Commission works to protect the public from merchants delivering shoddy products or poor service, and Chairman Jerome Gomez wants to ensure the public is aware of this.

The commission, which is located in offices next to the Teachers & Salaried Workers Cooperative Credit Union on East Street South, is the agency given the responsibility by the government to protect Bahamian consumers from abuse in the marketplace.

Recently, Senator Gomez explained that the commission was created by legislation (Consumer Protection Act 2006), and it has a broad function.

“We intend to look at all the issues that consumers have -- issues right down to even services delivered by the government,” Senator Gomez said.

“I want to say to consumers that they can provide us with any kind of issues they have with the service delivery of the government whether it is at Road Traffic, Passport Office, and Business Licence – wherever it might be.

“The commission sees itself really not as only resolving issues, but bringing to light to a lot of companies and government ministries, little things that they might need to fix that could create a better customer relation.”

He said the commission could impress upon the entities to fix issues that would really relieve some anxiety and stress to the consumer.

“We want complaints not only where you may have had issues with products and services, but just bring to our attention matters of delivery where you are waiting weeks or months for something or some service you expect even from the utility companies.

“If you apply for connection to the water supply or the Bahamas Electricity Corporation, or telephone service and that has been dragging along for a quite a time, let us know.”

The senator explained that the commission wants to be an advocate that goes to these companies and asks them to look at the service they are providing.

“If somebody wants to hook up to the electrical supply, why is it taking one month? Why is their water supply taking three months? We want to be able to help the consumer to get these things done.”

He noted, however, that sometimes companies and government ministries are so busy doing what they are doing regularly, that they do not see the kinds of issues happening in the way they deliver their services or so forth.

“We want to be the watchdog and point out how they can improve their delivery of service,” he said.