Consumer commission to hold auto industry seminar

The Competition and Consumer Affairs Commis-sion (CCAC) will be hosting a seminar on consumer protection in the auto industry next week.

The seminar, focused on ‘How the Consumer Affairs Act Will Impact the Auto Industry in Guyana,” will held on Wednesday, January 16, from 9 AM to 12 PM at Regency Hotel/Suites, in Hadfield Street, Georgetown, the CCAC said in an advisory.

The topics to be covered during the seminar are information to consumers, warranties, unfair contract terms and unfair trade practices, it said, while adding that it is imperative that suppliers of new, used and reconditioned vehicles in Guyana as well auto part dealers attend and participate in discussions.

It added that the discussion will be lead by the technical staff of the CCAC and Consumer Affairs Advisor/ Lead Technical Advisor to the CCAC Massimiliano Gangi, an expert in competition law and international best practices in consumer protection.

The CCAC is established by the Competition and Fair Trading Act CFTA of 2006 and the Consumer Affairs Act (CAA) of 2011, with the overarching objectives of encouraging competition, prohibiting anti-competitive business conduct, investigating alleged abuses of a dominant position in the market and in trade, and promoting consumer welfare in Guyana.

The CAA significantly alters the way in which consumer protection is viewed in Guyana, the CCAC said, noting that the law outlines the duties of a supplier and creates a framework in which all transactions between consumers and suppliers must adhere to. Businesses found to be in contravention of the CAA may be imposed with significant fines, it added.

Persons interested in participating in the seminar can register by contacting the CCAC’s Secretariat at 219-4411 ext 114 or 122.