Over 85 businesses in TCI to be monitored for price gouging

OVER 85 businesses in the TCI will be monitored by the Department of Trade, Industry, and Fair Competition for evidence of price gouging next month.

This comes as the Department of Trade gears up to launch its Compliance and Regulatory Enforcement (C.A.R.E) drive in February 2023.

The overall objective of the C.A.R.E. campaign is to actively educate providers whilst enforcing the main provisions to protect consumers under the Consumer Protection Ordinance, the Department said in a recent statement on Friday, January 27.

The Department of Trade which is responsible for the promotion and enforcement of the TCI Consumer Protection Ordinance said it anticipates that the drive will lead to a more predictable and efficient trading environment for both consumers and providers alike.

“The C.A.R.E. Drive will focus on two major work activities: (i) Part IV and V Checks – Consumer Officers will monitor businesses activities across the Turks and Caicos Islands to ensure that providers are compliant with their duties to consumers as outlined in Parts IV & V of the Ordinance.

“The Ordinance specifies that providers should give certain basic information to consumers about goods and services being sold, inform consumers about terms and conditions before payment is made (e.g., warranties, refunds, returns, exchanges, etc.), as well as abstain from misleading and deceptive conduct, false representation and unfair business practices.”

The second part of the drive will see Consumer Officers monitoring the prices of selected breadbasket items to assess if there is evidence of price gouging, a practice that is prohibited under Section 33 of the Ordinance.

The Department will monitor the prices of 23 items in specific retail outlets across the TCI to assess how these prices compare with the prices of similar goods or services that are available to consumers in the TCI.

A monthly price report will be published on the Department of Trade’s website for informational purposes.

The initiative is expected to reach over 85 businesses throughout the islands.

In this vein, the Department stressed that if businesses are found to be noncompliant with provisions under the

Consumer Protection Ordinance, the infractions will be thoroughly investigated.

“The Department of Trade will investigate the matter thoroughly and issue warnings to providers to desist from these practices, if no corrective action is taken, fines will be issued in accordance with the Ordinance.

The goal of the Ordinance is to establish provisions for the protection of consumer interests in relation to the supply of goods and services in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Businesses throughout the islands were also urged to get familiar with their duties to consumers under the Consumer Protection Ordinance by contacting the Department of Trade on 338-3703 or via website www.gov.tc/trade.

There is a saying that 20% of the employees do 80% of the work which is referred to as the Pareto Principle. I do not think this is the case in all workplaces but it appears that this principle is evident in many workplaces.

It is so unfair and unacceptable that some people that have a job are not doing their jobs but rather are busybodies in the workplace. In this context, a busybody is someone who is busy with everything else but doing their job. They are busy on the phone talking to others about issues unrelated to the job. They are busy gossiping. They are busy on social media. They are just idle. They are doing a different job on the job. Ironically, they are expected to get paid for being busybodies, but they know they didn’t work.

BY DREXWELL SEYMOUR

Drexwell Seymour is a certified public accountant and is the managing partner for HLB TCI. His favourite hobby, however, is writing. He has a personal website, www.drexwellseymour. com, where all of his writings are posted. He also has a YouTube channel where you can find inspirational videos. Drexwell has a BA in Accounting and an MBA in Finance.

The Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 3 10-12 NIV “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule. The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat. We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people, we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.”

I encourage all of us who have a job to do our work. There are some people that are unemployed who are willing to work but they do not have the opportunity to do so. Furthermore, it is not right that some people are doing their jobs while others are not. In fact, those that are doing their work sometimes have to take up the duties and responsibilities of busybodies.

The workplace can be so efficient if everyone does their job. Those individuals who are not doing their jobs must be held accountable and reprimanded. Otherwise, we will continue to have busybodies in the workplace.

Some people do not have to work long hours as they should, but they do so because the busybodies do not do their part. The busybodies need to work and give back the hours they were busy not working.

The first step in dealing with busybodies is to have a candid conversation with the busybodies about their behaviour. If they continue, give them a warning in writing.

Also, give them tasks to do on a daily basis and let them know they must complete the tasks that day even if it means working late hours.

The workplace may have to enforce some strict rules such as no use of the mobile phone or internet during working hours.

I think some busybodies may be in the wrong jobs. Perhaps they do not like what they are doing and so they are busy with other things. No one should be on a job being a busybody. You are being paid for a job and so you should do your job.

Sometimes some hard-working employees are getting blamed because busybodies are not doing their part. I remind each busybody to be conscious of the fact that you are being watched. Do you think it is right to get paid for not working? If you had a business, would you want your employees to do what you are doing? If your answers are no which I am quite sure they are, then do your work and stop being a busybody.