News

CCC to Host Competition Law and Policy Workshop in Saint Lucia

The CCC is pleased to announce that it will be in St Lucia from 17-19 June 2024 together with its partners the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of St Lucia. The event will be held at Bel Jou Hotel in Castries. Facilitators will discuss the economic principles underpinning competition law and policy, the institutional and legal framework for competition law enforcement, and practical strategies for implementing competition policy in Saint Lucia. Participants will also hear how Women's Economic Empowerment considerations can be woven into competition policy. 

This initiative, which is an activity within the CCC's 2024-2026 Strategic Plan and 2024 Work Programme, is designed to assist Saint Lucia in complying with Chapter VIII of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which mandates the enactment of national competition laws and the establishment of national competition authorities.

For more information on the speakers and logistics of the event, click here.

CCC meets with Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, Suriname

CCC meets with Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, Suriname 

The CCC together with CAHFSA met with the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, Suriname and his team on Friday 23^rd February 2024. Fruitful discussions were held wherein the Hon. Minister reaffirmed the commitment of Suriname to the CARICOM and the regional institutions to which Suriname is host. Discussions centered around improvements of hosting arrangements for the two CARICOM Institutions, compliance with the obligations of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and proposals of the recent RCCI consultancy, expected to be raised at the upcoming Conference of Heads of CARICOM Government. The meeting concluded with assurances that further collaboration would be on the table as Suriname, CCC and CAHFSA work towards strengthening regional integration.

Paramaribo, 23 February 2024

Click here to download the press release.

Final episode of CCC Conversations now available

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Final Episode of "CCC Conversations" Video Series Featuring Interview with Mr. David Miller

Paramaribo, 12 December 2023 – To conclude the activities marking its 15th anniversary, the CARICOM Competition Commission (Commission) announces the release of the final episode of its video series, ‘CCC Conversations’. This last episode features an insightful interview with Mr. David Miller, the Executive Director of the Jamaica Fair Trading Commission since November 2008.

"The 15th anniversary of the Commission is a significant milestone, and we are delighted to share this moment with stakeholders across the region through the final episode of 'CCC Conversations,'" said Mr. Nestor Alfred, Commissioner at the Commission. "Mr. David Miller's insights offer a unique perspective on the challenges faced by small national competition authorities and underscore the importance of our role as a regional competition authority within the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME)."

As the 15th-anniversary celebrations end, the Commission extends an invitation to the public to anticipate the release of its strategic plan for the years 2024-2026. The strategic plan will outline the institution’s priority initiatives to further enhance competition enforcement and consumer protection in the CSME.

To watch the final episode of "CCC Conversations" featuring Mr. David Miller, the previous two episodes with competition expert Dr. Eleanor Fox and Ms. Teresa Moreira of UNCTAD and to learn more about the Commission's 15th-anniversary productions, please visit our official YouTube channel or our LinkedIn and Facebook social media pages. The see the full press release you can also click here. 

Second episode of CCC Conversations now available

CARICOM Competition Commission Unveils Second Episode of CCC Conversations: Exploring the Role of Competition Law and Policy with UNCTAD's Teresa Moreira

The CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC) continues to engage and educate the public with the launch of the second episode of its video series, "CCC Conversations." This episode features an exclusive interview with Ms. Teresa Moreira, the Head of the Competition and Consumer Policies Branch at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Ms. Moreira's expertise, spanning her illustrious career in competition law and policy, promises an enlightening discussion on the significance of these principles in developing countries, particularly those in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

In this episode of "CCC Conversations," Ms. Teresa Moreira shares her invaluable insights into the role of competition law and policy in developing countries, with a specific focus on the CSME region. The conversation explores various facets, including:

• The critical importance of competition law in fostering fair and competitive markets in developing countries like those in the CSME.
• The synergies between competition and industrial policies for advancing economic development.
• The pivotal role of regional competition authorities in facilitating regional integration movements.

The second episode of "CCC Conversations" promises to be a thought-provoking dialogue, highlighting the immense potential that competition law and policy hold for the development of the CSME Member States. Watch the episode on our YouTube channel HERE. 

CCC and CXC to host Youth Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection

CARICOM COMPETITION COMMISSION AND CXC® TO CONVENE A REGIONAL VIRTUAL YOUTH CONFERENCE ON COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW

Paramaribo, 09 November 2023 - This year the CARICOM Competition Commission (Commission) celebrates its 15^th Anniversary in 2023 and the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC®) celebrates its 50^th Anniversary. The two CARICOM Regional institutions are jointly convening a regional virtual youth conference on competition and consumer protection law and policy.

The conference theme is "The Importance of Competition and Consumer Laws and Policies to the CSME Regional Integration Movement" and is scheduled for 21^st November 2023 at 8.30am CST (Belize), 9.30am EST (Jamaica), 10.30am ECT, and 11.30am SRT (Suriname).

The Conference targets students completing Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC®) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination® (CAPE®) subjects with CARICOM and economics components. The presentations delivered will link theoretical concepts to real world application of competition and consumer protection law and policy. 

To see the full press release, click here. 

Launch of the first episode of CCC Conversations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Paramaribo, 29^th September 2023. The CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC) proudly announces the celebration of its 15^th anniversary, a significant milestone in its mission to promote fair competition and foster economic growth within the Caribbean region. To commemorate this achievement, CCC is delighted to launch "CCC Conversations", an engaging video series that will provide insights through the eyes of international and regional experts into the world of competition policy and enforcement in the Caribbean. 

For more information about the CCC and to watch the first episode of "CCC Conversations" featuring Dr. Eleanor Fox, please visit our website our social media platforms or click here. Stay tuned for further episodes!

To view the full press release please click here. 

CCC Completes Preliminary Assessment of LPG Markets

PRESS RELEASE

20 July 2023

The CARICOM Competition Commission (“the Commission”) has concluded a preliminary assessment of a pricing matter related to the market for Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG, commonly known as “cooking gas”) in two Member States of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

The preliminary assessment commenced in October 2021 through the Commission’s internal review of the relevant markets in Guyana and Barbados based on information received, which was followed in April 2022 by requests for national preliminary examination reports from the Member States’ national competition commissions. The national competition authorities submitted their respective reports of their national markets in September 2022 and April 2023. On this basis, the Commission has now concluded its preliminary assessment as required under Article 176 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC).

The Commission finds there to be insufficient evidence of both (i) any likely price collusion at the import level in the respective Member States and (ii) cross-border effects. As such, a full regional investigation in the LPG markets of the relevant Member States may not be warranted at this time. In this instance, the relevant national competition authorities may take further action in accordance with their enabling national legislation and keep the LPG market under continued surveillance given the preliminary signs that price collusion could be a plausible concern.

To view the entire press release, click here. 

CCC and CTU to host webinar on consumer protection

CCC Close out Consumer Conference

CARICOM Competition Commission and Commonwealth Conference on Enforcement Practices and Emerging Trends in Consumer Protection

The CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC) is pleased to announce a closing conference to its Online Consumer Protection Course for consumer protection officials and competition officials in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), to be held virtually on 15^th June 2023, at 11am ECT or 4pm UK.

The conference will feature expert speakers on Enforcement and Redress – Jason Freeman, UK Competition and Markets Authority, Sasha Gaye-Russell, Jamaica Consumer Affairs Commission, and include an overview of new proposals by the CARICOM Secretariat’s Ms. Cecila Melville for financial consumer protection. CCC’s Mr. Rommell Hippolyte will introduce the segment with a look at assessment tools for consumer detriment.

Emerging Trends in the Digital Economy for consumer protection will be the main focus of the session with Professor Dr. Archana Gulati presenting on developments in India; Dr. Iris Benöhr of Queen Mary University on consumer credit and debt in the UK and EU; and Ms. Vashti Maharaj of the Commonwealth speaking to consumer issues in data protection and cybersecurity. CCC’s Ms. Nievia Ramsundar will support the segment with an overview of key legislative issues for protection of the digital consumer.

To view the entire press release, please click here. 

CCC and Commonwealth Secretariat hosts Consumer Protection Webinar

CARICOM Competition Commission and Commonwealth to host a Consumer Protection Webinar

The CARICOM Competition Commission in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat will host a webinar on consumer protection law and policy on 3 May 2023 at 11:00 – 12:30 pm Eastern Caribbean Time.

The webinar aims to build the capacity of policymakers, government officials, lawyers, private businesses, consumer advocates, and anyone with an interest in enhancing consumer welfare in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and beyond. Participants will gain insights from experts on the principles of consumer protection law and policy from international and regional perspectives, and the consumer protection framework in the CSME.

The event also forms part of the Commission’s online Introductory Consumer Protection Law and Policy in the CSME, which aims to support the achievement of the Single Market by promoting a harmonised approach to consumer protection in the region. Participants of the online course will, therefore, have an opportunity to interact with some of the course facilitators. The second consumer protection webinar will be held on 15 June 2023.

Featured Speakers:

•  Ms. Iris Benohr, Senior Lecturer at the Queen Mary University of London and the Deputy Director of the Institute for Competition and Consumers (ICC)
•  Ms. Tyra Bakker, Legal Officer at the Guyana Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission
•  Mr. Marc Jones, Senior Legal Counsel at the CARICOM Competition Commission

For further information about the mandate of the Commission, the consumer protection webinar, or the consumer protection law and policy course, please contact the Commission at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or through our Facebook or LinkedIn social media platforms.

For Information on the Commonwealth Secretariat, its mandate and work in the Commonwealth, you can visit https://thecommonwealth.org/, or view their social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

To register for the event click here.

CARICOM Competition Commission                         Commonwealth Secretariat

Paramaribo, Suriname                                               London, United Kingdom