Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 12, 2023 (SKNIS): The Consumer Affairs Department (CAD) and by extension the Government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis will join the rest of the world on Wednesday, March 15, to celebrate World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) under the global theme “Empowering Consumers Through Clean Energy Transitions.”
During an address on Sunday, March 12 to declare Consumer Awareness Week open, Senior Minister and Minister responsible for Consumer Affairs, the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas, commented on this year’s theme adding that there must be an all-of-society approach when dealing with climate change.
“As we celebrate World Consumer Rights Day under the theme “Empowering Consumers Through Clean Energy Transitions,” it is an opportunity for us as consumers, business owners and government to impart greater emphasis on the need for the protection of our planet from the negative effects of high concentrations of greenhouse gasses,” said Minister Dr. Douglas. “In addition, it allows for the promotion of various forms of clean/renewable energy sources and highlights the cost-saving benefits offered to consumers. As Governments, and the world over struggle to navigate the greatest cost of living crisis in a generation and as the energy world responds to supply and climate issues, ultimately, it is imperative that long-term sustainability is achieved by the integration of alternative energy sources to the benefit of consumers.”
Dr. Douglas said that to better understand the overall importance of this year’s theme, we must first understand climate change and its negative impacts.
He continued: “This year’s theme for World Consumer Rights Day also brings to the fore pressing issues of food scarcity, and high prices of goods and services, which consumers are facing daily as the world struggles to rebound economically and financially from the ravaging effects of the COVID- 19 pandemic and the ongoing Russian- Ukraine war.”
WCRD was introduced in 1983 by Consumer International, the global voice for consumer protection. It is used to highlight areas where consumer protection is lacking and to initiate discussions that could bring about new and revised legislation to better protect consumers.
Data from http://www.consumersinternational.org states thatWCRD is an opportunity to promote the basic rights of all consumers, for demanding that those rights are respected and protected, and for protesting the market abuses and social injustices, which undermine them.
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