BARBADOS CONSUMERS WATCH: Wages, layoffs and ambulance service

Friday, September 19, 2008

Wages, layoffs and ambulance service

Wages, layoffs and ambulance service
Well, the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) wants workers to be paid based on productivity. We know there are many challenges with measuring productivity. What about management productivity and efficiency which also have an impact on the bottom line. Let's all work harder, hope we get recognition and proper management and low productivity it not located at the top of the stream.Did Cable & Wireless Barbados say how many workers are to be laid off. This after announcing with smiles, even fatter profits earned off the backs or fingers of consumers. So staff work hard, the company makes super profits and then the staff are rewarded with what? Layoffs. And what will be the impact of the layoffs on customer service?Thanks to the Business Authority for publishing a letter from me on consumer concerns about lack of information from the Fair Trading Commission (FTC). The FTC says it wants to hear from consumers but isn't prepared to provide them with information so they may comment based on substance. What does the Mission Statement of the FTC say? That it will be transparent.Eight out of 12 QEH ambulances are not working.What is the response from CEO Winston Collymore?"If you look at any ambulance service, even in advanced countries, there are always a number of them in the garage because they take a heavy pounding."Well so much for responsibility, health care and the old folk who cannot pay to get to the hospital.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...: Gentlemen
The plan by Cable & Wireless really baffles me. Cut 1,200 jobs within the region to further drive up profits so as to justify more stock
options for the fat cats (executives in the UK) and ask office and line workers to do the job of 3 persons. Where are the Unions? Don't
they get to have a look-in on C&W's financial statements?

Hallam, the article appearing in the Business Authority on the FTC was excellent - please keep up the pressure.

Has anyone taken note of the recent land tax valuation notices that have recently been issued by the Land Tax department?
Some valuations have increased 100%......these are going to have a serious impact on the rising cost-of- living.

The QEH......it will require more than political will to solve the problems at this institution.

Regards
Doug; September 19, 2008 at 4:25 PM
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WELCOME TO THE CONSUMER'S FORUM - IT'S OUR FIGHT

Consumer Claims Tribunal

THE Consumer Claims Tribunal was established by section 41(1) of the Consumer Guarantees Act 2002-21 which was enacted on January 15, 2003.

At present the Tribunal is made up of a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman and three other members as follows:
Mr. Ian Bishop: Attorney-at-Law - Chairman
Mr. Jefferson Cumberbatch: Attorney-at-Law - Deputy Chairman
Mr. Edmund Hinkson: Attorney-at-Law - Member
Mr. Antoine Williams: Business Executive - Member
Ms. Fay Lucas: Accountant - Member

The function of the Tribunal is to enforce the rights conferred on consumers by the Consumer Guarantees Act. The Tribunal may determine complaints made to it where the value of the subject matter of the complaint does not exceed $10 000.00.

Any person who has a right of redress against another person under the Consumer Guarantees Act, may enforce that right by making a complaint to the Consumer Claims Tribunal.

Where a consumer believes that a right that he has under the Act has been breached he may refer the matter to the Office of Public Counsel who may, mediate on his behalf with the person whom he believes has breached those rights.

If no settlement has been reached the matter may be referred to the Consumer Claims Tribunal and Public Counsel may also represent the consumer before the Tribunal.

Before submitting a case for hearing by the Tribunal, consumers should make all reasonable efforts to obtain redress for the complaint with the supplier of the good or service. If there is no resolution through the Office of Public Counsel, then the complaint can be submitted in writing to:
Ministry of Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Business Development
Reef Road
Fontabelle
ST. MICHAEL
Telephone #: (246) 427-5270
**************************

The Role of Public Counsel

1. The Office of Public Counsel has a mandate to protect and promote the individual and collective interests of domestic consumers of utility services.
2. The post is structurally separate and distinct from the Fair Trading Commission to ensure that the Office is able to act independently and provide effective representation of consumer interests.
3. The primary role of the Office is to represent the interests of domestic telephone, electricity, water, gas and transport consumers in utility regulation matters before the Fair Trading Commission and in appeals from decisions of the Commission. Domestic consumers are a vulnerable market who need robust and impartial representation of their interests.
4. The Office will also assist individual consumers taking proceedings before the Fair Trading Tribunal on matters related to the proposed Consumer Guarantees Act. The Consumer Guarantees Act will replace the Sale of Goods Act in respect of consumer transactions and will detail the rights and remedies of consumers in consumer contract transactions.

Although the Fair Trading Commission will enforce the provisions of the proposed Consumer Protection Act, the proposed Consumer Guarantees Act will not be enforced by the Fair Trading Commission but will rely on action being taken by private consumers.

Utility Regulation
5. The work of the Office in utility regulation matters includes the following:
(a) ensuring that the interests of domestic consumers are taken into account in the price control review process, at rate hearings and in any determinations on quality of service;
(b) assisting domestic consumers in presenting arguments at price control reviews or rate hearings;
(c) representing domestic consumers at hearings before the Commission relating to complaints on billings and standards of service; and
(d) advising and educating domestic consumers on the provisions of the Utilities Regulation Bill.

6. The establishment of this department will therefore ensure that the information presented at reviews and hearings before the Commission are more effectively and critically examined and that the consumer's view is fully taken into account in any determinations made by the Commission.

7. The Office of Public Counsel will also aid in the streamlining of utility regulation hearings before the Commission, by promoting compliance with procedural rules and encouraging objectors on similar topics to combine their submissions.

8. Although it is expected that the quasi-judicial adversarial method of rate-setting will change with the introduction of incentive compatible mechanisms, such as price caps, the Office of Public Counsel will continue to play a role in representing domestic consumer interests in the consultative process.

Consumer Protection
9. The role of the Office of Public Counsel in consumer protection matters includes:
(a) advising and educating consumers generally on matters relating to the proposed Consumer Guarantees Act; and
(b) representing individual consumers bringing civil claims under the Consumer Guarantees Act before the Fair Trading Tribunal where Public Counsel deems this necessary or desirable.

10. The Office of Public Counsel will be unable to represent every individual bringing a claim before the Fair Trading Tribunal, as this would require the allocation of greater financial resources to the Office. It is expected therefore that Public Counsel will represent individual consumers in matters that are of general public interest or significance and would set a useful precedent.

11. Public Counsel will be expected to assume a high level of responsibility and public accountability. The officer is a legally qualified officer appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission and must be an attorney at law of not less than 10 years standing.

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Friday, September 19, 2008

Wages, layoffs and ambulance service

4 comments:

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BARBADOS CONSUMERS WATCH

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Friday, September 19, 2008

Wages, layoffs and ambulance service

4 comments:

BCW TV

Subscribe

Labels In This Blog

Keep Your Supermarket Bills

The Consumer Channel

SUPPORT BCW

WELCOME TO THE CONSUMER'S FORUM - IT'S OUR FIGHT

Consumer Legislation

The Fair Trading Commission

Eye Opener

Blog Archive

Advocates

British National Consumer Council

Consumer Claims Tribunal

The Role of Public Counsel

Followers