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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
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The CCC and CTU invites interested persons to attend the Webinar on Consumer Protection in Telecoms. The Webinar seeks to disseminate valuable information, promote awareness and facilitate an interactive platform for stakeholders to engage with US FCC and CARICOM experts.
Objectives:
For more information about the Webinar and registration click here. |
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 15th 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
CCC launches online introductory competition course
CARICOM COMPETITION COMMISSION LAUNCHES ONLINE COURSE IN COMPETITION LAW AND POLICY IN THE CSME”
Article 173.2 (g) and (h) of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas RTC) mandates the CARICOM Competition Commission (Commission) to: facilitate the exchange of relevant information and expertise; and develop and disseminate information about competition policy, and consumer protection policy.
Pursuant to this Treaty mandate, the Commission is pleased to announce the launch of its online course on competition law and policy in the CSME. The online programme commenced on April 18, 2023. It offers training in competition law and its benefits to consumers and the regional economy. Its eight modules cover aspects such as the objectives, legal pillars, and basic economics of competition law. Specific to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) the course also presents the competition regimes and the relationships between the various institutions and the courts of the region.
Public officials and other interested persons can register for the course using the link https://forms.gle/rNvQfS7AkMdEAXF26 or by contacting the Commission via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or through our Facebook and LinkedIn social media pages.
CCC and Commonwealth Secretariat launch online consumer protection course
CARICOM Competition Commission and Commonwealth launch a new course for Consumer Protection Authorities in the Caribbean
Today the CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC) launches its online consumer protection course for consumer protection officials in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
This activity forms part of the CCC’s 2023 Work Programme supporting the development of the region’s consumer protection framework, which is a core enabler to achieving a fully integrated regional economy and single market.
The CCC partnered with the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Connectivity Agenda Section, which provided funding to facilitate the course’s development. The course aims to support the development of the region’s consumer protection framework which is a core enabler to achieving a fully integrated regional economy.
The course is primarily facilitated by Dr. Iris Benöhr, who is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Law at Queen Mary University of London and the Deputy Director of the Institute for Competition and Consumers (ICC), with contributions from national consumer protection authorities within the region and the CCC.
To view the full press release, click here.
CCC and Guyana Bar Association to host Competition law and Consumer Protection Webinar
The CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC) and the Guyana Bar Association are hosting a webinar on Competition law and Consumer protection on 25 April 2023 at 3:00PM Guyana time.
Speakers:
Mr. Marc Jones, Senior Legal Counsel, CCC
Ms. Tyra Bakker, Legal Officer, Guyana Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission
Mr. Shane Nicholls, Research Officer, Barbados Fair Trading Commission
To join the event please click here.
To view the official flyer for the event, click here.
The agenda for the webinar can be assessed here.
CCC to discuss competition and consumer law on the panel of the ICC Inaugural Conference
The Institute for Competition and Consumers (ICC), Queen Mary University of London, will hold an inaugural conference on “The Limits of Consumer Empowerment in times of crisis: how to empower consumers while protecting the vulnerable?", on 21 April 2023 - 15h-17h UK time.
The event aims to reflect on the role and limits of competition law in empowering consumers as well as protecting vulnerable consumers in times of fast changing market dynamics. Equally, it will question the role of consumer law in empowering and protecting consumers and examine potential synergies between the two frameworks.
Speakers
Inge Bernaerts, Director for Strategy and Policy - DG Competition, European Commission, EU
Jason Freeman, Director, Consumer Law, Director, Consumer Law · Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), UK
Teresa Moreira, Head of the Competition and Consumer Policies Branch, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UN
Nievia Ramsundar, Executive Director, CARICOM Competition Commission, Caribbean Community
Agustin Reyna, Director of Legal and Economic Affairs, The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC)
Chairs:
Iris Benöhr, Deputy Director for Consumers, ICC, QMUL
Maria Ioannidou, Deputy Director for Competition, ICC, QMUL
Introduction:
Eyad Dabbah, ICC, QMUL
Please find below the link to the event and the Eventbrite page:
CCC and CXC sign MOU to educate the youth in competition and consumer law
24 February 2023
Press Release
CCC and CXC® collaborate in competition and consumer protection education.
On Monday, 13 February 2023, Dr Wayne Wesley, Registrar and CEO, CXC® joined Mr. Justice Christopher Blackman, Chairman of the CARICOM Competition Commission in a moment of solidarity to mark the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC®) and the CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC).
The MOU, officially signed on 12 December 2022 by CCC and CXC® will support future cooperation in the development of a strong competition and consumer culture within the Caribbean Community Single Market and Economy (CSME).
To read the full press release click here.
Trinidad and Tobago Fair Trading Commission Request for Proposals for Consultancy Services
REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS
The Trinidad and Tobago Fair Trading Commission invites suitably qualified offers to submit complete proposals for conducting a Competitiveness Market Study to assist in strengthening the Competition Framework in Trinidad and Tobago. For more information on the request for proposals click here.