GUYANA will join with the rest of the world in celebrating World Consumer Rights Day on March 15, 2020.

This year’s theme ‘The Sustainable Consumer’ will focus on the need for sustainable consumption globally, as well as highlight the important role that consumers play in ensuring their rights are being protected.

Education Officer attached to the Consumer Affairs Department of the Ministry of Business, Lucreatia Hubbard, in an interview, outlined some tips to consumers, so that they can become sustainable consumers. These included — buying more organic fruits and vegetables, the use of more recycled bags from purchases at the Supermarket, the reduction of the use of plastic and the making of one’s beauty products using coconut oil, thus reducing the use of chemicals found in the beauty products that are available for sale at beauty parlours and cosmetic stores in the country.

The use of natural energy is also encouraged, since less fossil gas is released in the air, according to Hubbard.

According to the Education Officer, there are a number of activities planned to mark this year’s celebrations; these include A Student Painting Competition which began on February 1, 2020 and will conclude on March 10, 2020.

Hubbard added that the Ministry plans to hold an appreciation ceremony to recognize colleagues who had played a major role in advocating the rights of consumers across the country.

Additionally, the Ministry is embarking on a sensitisation drive to arm consumers with the knowledge of their rights as consumers and business people. To this end, the Ministry will be partnering with the Guyana National Bureau of Standards and other stakeholders to ensure that the message is largely disseminated through Radio and Television programmes, school sensitisation programmes and participation in various expositions such as Berbice Expo.

The Department of Consumer Affairs, within the Ministry of Business, stands in full support of the protection of the planet and provides fair social conditions for current and future generations.

“The aim of sustainable consumption is to increase efficiency and fair trade while helping to alleviate poverty, thus allowing everyone to enjoy a good quality of life and able to access, food, water, energy and medicine”, according to a statement from the Consumers International Website.