Consumer conference Aruba for more awareness

March 20, 2012 10:45 AM

ORANJESTAD — The Empower Consumer Conference, which began yesterday at Renaissance Convention Center, drew the public’s attention to the fact that many companies on Aruba are not observing the legal rules as regards giving guarantees.

The Dutch Consumers’ Association explained their accomplishments in The Netherlands, for instance reduction of the electricity costs.

This evening is the second and last evening of the conference. Minister Michelle Winklaar (AVP) of Economic Affairs, Social Affairs and Culture hopes the conference will be a starting point of awareness of consumer rights. The first evening of the free conference attracted approximately 150 people, who listened to six guest speakers from the University of Aruba, Attorneys’ Office VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Department Rent & Consumer Affairs, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Dutch Consumers’ Association.

Power of social media
Bart Combee, chairman of the Dutch Consumers’ Association, is the principal speaker. He has an inspiring story because Aruba doesn’t have a consumers’ association yet. With concrete examples, he demonstrates what a consumers’ association can accomplish and what the association accomplished in The Netherlands, for instance a reduction of the electricity costs or a better service at helpdesks. Combee emphasizes the power of social media. Someone who for example shares a bad experience via Twitter about a company can cause a wave of reactions in a short period of time. The company cannot ignore this and will respond to rectify the situation, says the chairman. In a nutshell, his message is ‘together we stand strong’.

Laws and rights
Carlos Bollen, dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Aruba, argues that many companies on Aruba do not observe the legal rules when it comes to general conditions and giving guarantees.

‘Conditions and guarantees not under the law’

Jeannot de Cuba, attorney and partner with VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne, elaborates on the rights of consumers and the Civil Code as regards contents. He states that few are familiar with the laws on protection in the broadest sense of the word and that awareness is necessary.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs explained to the public about the control on prices and what a company is allowed to do or not. For instance, in any case all prices on Aruba must be indicated in florins and there must always be a price indication, said advisor Suhailah Maduro. There was some confusion during the question round, because according to attorney De Cuba, companies are only to indicate clearly which currency is used. However, advisor Maduro sticks to her viewpoint because that’s what the law stipulates.

Report complaints
The Department Rent and Consumer Affairs from the government emphasizes how they can help with complaints. They have a consumers’ committee that studies the complaints and determines which party is right. Both the department and the ministry indicate that reporting complaints or inaccuracies is important because then we’ll known what’s an issue in the society. It’s remarkable that Fundacion CAS, the foundation that labors for consumers’ affairs, is not present as speaker. Upon inquiry, it appears the foundation and the department don’t not work together.

Jamal Mahawat-Khan, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, concludes the evening. His speech is focused on the business community and he speaks about the four responsibilities: economic, legal, ethic and philanthropic responsibility. What obligations do companies have and what is allowed and what isn’t? His conclusion is clear: no business without consumers.

Basic principles of Kennedy
Yesterday was the World Consumers’ Day and it’s no coincidence that the conference started yesterday. Minister Winklaar, who opened the conference, quotes former president John F. Kennedy in her speech. Exactly 50 years ago, he was the first president to speak about consumer rights. Kennedy recapitulated this in eight basic principles: the right to basic needs, safety, information, choice, to be heard, compensation, consumer education and the right to a healthy living environment. Winklaar states the world has changed considerably since then but Kennedy’s basic principles are still relevant.

The first evening of the consumer conference focused on the theme ‘Nos placa, nos derecho’ (our money, our right). Many speakers gave vivid examples which almost everyone could identify with. This illustrates that many had experienced a situation in which consumer rights were not observed. They either didn’t know about these rights or didn’t know what they could do about the situation. The purpose of the conference is to draw the public’s attention to consumer rights. This evening’s theme is finances.

(Source: Amigoe)

16 March 2012