The Consumer Affairs Commission’s (CAC), today (December 13) participated in discussions with some key stakeholders of the petrol industry with an aim to continue its negotiations for compensation on behalf of consumers following incidents of damaged vehicles caused by contaminated gas in 2015.
“We met with the Jamaica Association of Petroleum Marketers and Petrojam Ethanol to continue the discussion on how best to find some relief for some of the loss consumers suffered after their vehicles were damaged,” Mrs. Dolsie Allen, CEO of the Consumer Affairs Commission said.
The CAC has been pressing for some level of compensation for consumers since the story broke in the media in November 2015 and the Commission subsequently began receiving complaints from several motorists detailing damage to the engine of their motor vehicle after purchasing “bad gas” from several petrol stations.
However, the CAC is confident that while negotiations are ongoing, the public will be informed of some positive conclusion to the issue in the New Year.
“The discussions are going well and we remain positive that very early in the New Year we will have some positive news for consumers,” Allen said.
Editors Note:
In the previous administration, the then portfolio Minister Phillip Paulwell called for a probe The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) was invited to be a part of the Petroleum Trade Reform Committee (PTRC). One of the recommendations put forward on behalf of consumers then, by the Commission, was for compensation for consumers.
Subsequently the Government commenced discussions with petroleum marketing companies and other players within the industry regarding compensation for motorists who were affected by contaminated gas last year.
By October 25 of this year, the new Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, in a statement to the House of Representatives on the final report of the Petroleum Trade Reform Committee (PTRC) stated that although the report faulted no particular entity or individual, the Government supports the CAC’s call for compensation.
The CAC is an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce Agriculture & Fisheries and is mandated to protect, educate, advocate, resolve complaints and advise the Ministry on policy through research and market surveillance.
For more information:
Communications Unit
Dorothy E. Campbell, Communications Specialist – 564-8902
Protecting Your Rights, Securing Our Future
An agency of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries
34 Trafalgar Road I Kingston 10, JAMAICA
Tel: 1+876-9065425 I Digicel: 1+876-6194222 I Fax: 1+876-9067525
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