Seychelles Consumer Protection Association officially registered |02 July 2020

From left to right: Marcel Antat, Georges Volcère, Maria Thomas, Andrew Germain and Christopher Thomas

After a few months of campaigning on social media, the Seychelles Consumer Protection Association was officially registered as a legal association in June 2020.

With more than 2,000 followers online, the group gained momentum following an increase in price of commodities in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The association is composed of Georges H. Volcère (chairperson), Christopher Thomas (vice chairperson), Maria Thomas (secretary), Andrew Germain (treasurer) and Marcel Antat (member).

“Our main aim is to provide a platform for consumers to lodge their complaints with regards to overpricing especially in shops. Our objective is to neither replace nor fight against any existing institutions with mandates concerning consumers’ rights but to work alongside them to resolve issues and find ways to counter/deter malpractices and abuses. It is also not our aim to fight against any businesses, be it wholesalers or retailers but to address them as partners in resolving issues pertaining to consumers’ grievances which I must sadly say have been up to now, grossly been neglected,” Mr Volcère told Seychelles NATION.

The Seychelles Consumer Protection Association (SCPA) is not there to take sides but to help resolve when/where this becomes necessary. This partnership will also come in the form of educating both consumers and businesses on good practices and their rights.

“The association being a non-profit organisation depends on the consumers through their contributions as paid members to be able to perform satisfactorily so I am imploring you to join us. I wish to make it clear that this association is not a platform which will tolerate any means of insults from any parties, i.e. consumers and retailers. Due to COVID-19, for now members are requested to pay a minimum of R100 until things get back to normal,” explained Mr Volcère.

Amongst their activities, this Sunday members of the SCPA will conduct a survey following the different reports of abuse from consumers.

Members of the public are being asked to keep themselves updated by accessing their page on social media where they can also be contacted.

Vidya Gappy