Tourism, Industry, Commerce Ministry to unveil strategic plan
ACTING Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Irfaan Ali has announced that a strategic plan, to improve the functions of the various arms of the ministry, will be unveiled within the coming weeks. Making the announcement, last week during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, he acknowledged that commerce and industry are critical aspects to be targeted and improved.
“Within the next three weeks, we are hoping to roll out a strategic plan on how we are going to go about targeting the specific functions, so that we can ensure that all segments that the ministry has responsibility for,  will be targeted,” Ali said.
He said systems are already in place to monitor changes in essential commodity prices and a weekly report will be provided with this information.
Ali said plans are also on stream to enlighten consumers on the availability of commodities.
“We have weekly monitoring as well and what we want to launch, very soon, is a consumer shopping guide, where we can let consumers know where the best deals are, where the best quality is and that speaks to the whole issue of standards. This is where the Bureau of Standards becomes another important segment of{the} ministry,” he explained.
In addition, the minister alluded to the importance of the Competitive Commission, as well as the need to focus on the investment potential while, at the same time, expanding the tourism sector.
He said the main functions of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission, among others, are:

* to keep commercial activities under review, with the aim of ascertaining practices which may adversely affect the economic interests of consumers;

* order, on its own initiative or at the request of any person or on the advice of the portfolio minister, such investigations in relation to the conduct of business as will enable it to determine whether any enterprise is engaging in business practices in contravention of the Competition Fair Trading Act (CFTA ) and or the Consumer Affairs Bill (CAB) and

* to conduct such enquiries as it may consider necessary or desirable, in connection with any matter falling within the provisions of the CFTA and or the CAB.