The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) yesterday launched its Code of Conduct, which would serve as a behavioural guide for business owners around Guyana.
The code was launched during a simple ceremony at Duke Lodge during which 24 entities signed on to the document. These included representatives from the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and the Linden Chamber of Commerce.
The code is divided into eight areas: “Legislation and the Government”, “Employ-ees”, “Customers”, “Supp-liers”, “Owners and Investors”, “Competition”, “Communities” and “Envir-onment”. According to the introduction in the document, the code “was developed as a guideline for our membership on the ideals of ethical principles, standards and in accordance with the laws of Guyana and the bylaws of the Chamber”.
Principle 1 of the document, addresses issues relating to legislation and the government. It urges businesses to “demonstrate ethical behaviour in all business transactions, reject and actively discourage corrupt behaviour and bribery by means of the exchange of cash, gifts or information.” It states too that signatories should “not knowingly mislead any government investigator or other regulatory official and at all times provide truthful and accurate information about our performance to any government regulatory agency, enquiry or investigation.”
Further these businesses should “not provide or attempt to provide and gain commercial advantage by improper inducements, favours or benefits directly or indirectly so as to influence government officials and /or public servants.”
Principle III, the section of the document which deals with customers, says that businesses should “provide all customers with goods and services for use in accordance with the directions of the regulatory bodies” and that they should “provide all customers with appropriate remedies for addressing customer dissatisfaction, and observe and uphold the provisions of any legislation in force in Guyana and for addressing such complaints.”
Regarding competition, the code speaks to engagement “in fair trade and competition within the realms of the law”.
It also speaks to businesses not knowingly making payments, offering inducements or granting favours in exchange for competitive advantages.
Senior Vice President of the GCCI Eon Caesar said that the code is in keeping with the body’s five-year strategic plan and its overall mission. He said the launching of the code signifies the body’s commitment to adhering to laws, regulations and standards.
The code was developed over the past two years by the chamber’s past and current executive, councillors and staff.
Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Ramesh Dookhoo said that all Guyana will benefit from the principles of corporate and social responsibility which are embedded in the code. He said that locally, because of the poor enforcement of laws, there are times when businesses would flirt with unethical behaviour and subscribing to the code would help to counteract this. He said too that his body is currently working to complete a Corporate Gover-nance Framework for Guyana.
Evadnie Benfield, acting Executive Director of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) commended the GCCI for establishing the code. The code, she said, addresses critical areas such as the treatment of customers and the securing of goods for sale. Benfield said that at no time, should quality and safety of products be compromised just for price.
During her brief remarks, she challenged businesses to stop issuing plastic bags to customers and to give customers recyclable paper bags instead. She said that this would be a good step to managing “the chaos in the environment.”
