Fair Trading Commission celebrates 10 years |19 December 2019
Minister Mondon addressing the gathering (Photo: Louis Toussaint)
2,579 consumer complaints registered, more than 2,200 dealt with
The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) recently celebrated its 10th anniversary around the theme ‘A decade of protection, promotion and progression’.
This was during an event at the Savoy Resort & Spa attended by the Designated Minister, Macsuzy Mondon, a representative of Comesa (Common Market for East and Southern Africa) and the staff of FTC.
FTC was born out of the economic reform of November 2008. It has a double mandate: the protection of consumer rights as well as ensuring a fair and competitive business environment in Seychelles. This is done through the enforcement of the Fair Competition Act 2009(FCA 09), the Consumer Protection Act 2010 (CPA 10) and the Fair Trading Commission Act 2009 (FTCA 09).
Designated Minister Mondon noted in her key address that as the country’s economic conditions change and consumer trends evolve, the commission has had to keep pace and as a result, its workload not only increased but the cases also increased in complexity.
“Hence, the last 10 years have been characterised by various changes, as well as achievements. While it has had to overcome many challenges, the commission has also notably built on progress made across the full spectrum of its advocacy, policy and enforcement role. These are perfectly in tune with its mission of ‘Advocating and enforcing consumer rights and obligations, while fostering a fair and competitive business environment in Seychelles’.
She also said that “for the economy to grow, businesses and individuals need to be confident that they are competing on a level playing field, because anti-competitive activities put honest businesses at a disadvantage and impede free and fair competition. It also dampens economic growth and undermines our democratic values, public accountability, and the rule of law. That is why FTC is committed to ensuring that all companies and individuals in the markets play by the rules. The commission believes that vigorous competition helps consumers, spurring businesses to be more efficient, to innovate, and to make better offerings at more competitive prices to entice customers from their competitors. This is not only good for ordinary people who benefit from better products and services but also for the economy because it means that the best, most efficient, productive and innovative businesses succeed and grow.”
Minister Mondon also talked about the importance of advocacy and education in this area so that all can benefit from this service.
The secretary of state for Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning, Patrick Payet, spoke about the objectives of the commission which are to promote and advance the welfare of consumers and thus reducing any disadvantages experienced by consumers in accessing any supply of goods or services by, among others, improving consumer awareness and information, encouraging responsible and informed consumer choice and behaviour, providing for an accessible, efficient, harmonised, and effective system of redress for consumers and keeping under review commercial activities to ensure that practices that may adversely or unfairly affect the interests of consumers and businesses are prevented or terminated.
“To date, the commission has registered over 2,579 consumer complaints of which it has addressed over 2,200 representing close to 90% of the cases. On the other hand, FTC has received 138 competition cases and has managed to conclude 130 representing 94% of the cases. With this record of bringing effective redress to the consumers, the FTC has become the point of call for aggrieved consumers and complaints received are increasing on an annual basis. These are records for the formative years of the organisation and are testament of the success of the FTC. However, and maybe ironically, in the future, with the sensitisation, and the deterrent impact of the penalties for breaches, success should really mean reduction in complaints and breaches, while consumer satisfaction and welfare remains high,” said SS Payet.
The chief executive of FTC, Francis Lebon, shared his journey as a staff of FTC till now.
“FTC started off in 2010 with 6 staff and today we are 32. I witnessed the increase and the development of staff over the years but most notably their dedication, efforts and drive for results. My journey had numerous challenges and benefits. I had the opportunity to serve and be at the forefront of competition/consumer enforcement and also represent my country abroad. I have witnessed the consistent improvement and growth in our enforcement actions over the years. FTC was barely visible then but today the logo speaks for itself. The institution has progressed – the staff have progressed. Today our institution is well recognised among Comesa as a performing institution. I have had the pleasure to meet and work with the most qualified persons in competition and consumer laws on the African continent. One notable person is none other than Mr Lipimile.”
The commission has invested and continuously invests in capacity building. There is no time in our history in which so many staff are undertaking their BSc programmes, Masters and others. Investing in our staff – our most valued assets – remain a priority so as to ensure continuous professional delivery in the years ahead. As an example, I started off with a degree in Economics and Finance. Today, I hold a PG Diploma in Economics for Competition Law and an MBA in Business Administration. I am sure that this will be the story of many and more in the years to come at the commission,” concluded Mr Lebon.
During the evening the following staff were rewarded for their long service with the commission: Francis Lebon, Dolores Barrack, Laura Lalande, Naomie Louise, Natalie Edmond, Neddy Padayachy and Ted Camille.
Vidya Gappy
