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Consumers Urged To Know Their Rights & Read Fine Print

Know your rights! This is the strong message from Acting Public Counsel in the Office of Public Counsel, Douglas Frederick, to consumers and the general public.

During an interview with the Barbados Government Information Service, Mr. Frederick said: “My message to consumers and the public in general is to know your rights, and do not sign away your rights. Do not give up your rights; read the contracts that are placed before you; read the fine print and read those purported waivers that are being put to you by suppliers.

“Read them! It takes time, but consider them and read them because in most cases, people try to hold you to those things that you have signed, even if there are unfair terms, they try to hold you to them.”

The Office of Public Counsel administers the Consumer Guarantees Act, which came into effect on January 16, 2003. This Act provides consumers with adequate protection when they purchase goods and use services for personal, domestic, or household use, or consumption.

If a product is defective, or a service is not provided with reasonable care and skill, the Office of Public Counsel represents the consumer by reaching out to the supplier, so as to hear his or her side, and then mediating, in an effort to reach a resolution that would benefit both parties.

“My message to consumers and the public in general is to know your rights, and do not sign away your rights. Do not give up your rights; read the contracts that are placed before you; read the fine print and read those purported waivers that are being put to you by suppliers.”Acting Public Counsel

The Acting Public Counsel, who has been in that post for the past six months, identified defective major appliances and electronic devices as the main complaints of consumers.

“Almost everybody in Barbados has a cell phone, and, or some electronic device, and we have found that…there have been an increase in those types of complaints…. People normally buy appliances on hire purchase, and if you look at the cash price and the hire purchase price, you will see a serious differential. So, people are spending their hard-earned money, and expect that these products will last, at least for some reasonable time without any defect, and give them good service.

“So, we have found that major appliances and electronic devices are our main problems that people highlight to us. Also vehicles, but we have certain restrictions because our jurisdiction is up to $10,000, so that is a limitation on our department, and it is something that has to be looked at,” he proffered.

Mr. Frederick noted that an increasing number of persons have been contacting the department with various queries, and he attributed it in part to the public awareness drive embarked upon when he took over six months ago.

He welcomed this interest and encouraged more members of the public to call the Office with queries, or if they wish to find out more about the department. However, he indicated that if suppliers breached any of the guarantees, then consumers should reach out to the Office of Public Counsel.

“We are the voice for those people who may not have the skill, the capacity or the resource to really defend or to represent themselves. We are the public’s lawyer. We look out for the rights of consumers, so we are here to serve you, that’s why it’s called the Office of Public Counsel,” he stressed.

Mr. Frederick explained that as part of its infrastructure, the Office of Public Counsel has a Consumer Claims Tribunal, which is equivalent to a magistrate’s court, with the jurisdiction of $10,000.

“It is supposed to be a speedier resolution than actually putting these matters before the magistrates’ civil court, and it is a more relaxed atmosphere than a court. The Tribunal operates on evidence so that your receipts and any correspondence or communication between the consumer and the supplier is sometimes necessary because that is evidence of the transaction. It doesn’t have to be written, it can be oral,” he said.

To contact the Office of the Public Counsel, persons may call 535-2758 or 535-2762, or email public.counsel@barbados.gov.bb.

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SPECIAL POLLING DAY NOTICE

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FundAccess To Host Legal Clinic Workshop from May 13th

Entrepreneurs will soon get another opportunity to learn about critical legal matters that are key to the operation of their businesses.

FundAccess will be hosting The Legal Clinic Workshop, which will commence on Tuesday, May 13, and continue each Tuesday, until May 27, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The workshop will be facilitated by Attorney-at-law Ondene Kirton and participants will discuss Understanding Business Legal Structures; Contracts & Agreements; Employment Law & Compliance; and Examination of the Various Laws Relating to Small Business.

During those sessions, the participants will be exposed to sole proprietorship, partnerships, corporations – pro and cons; how to choose the right legal structure for a business; the importance of contracts in business operations; avoiding common contract pitfalls; and employee rights & employer responsibilities, among others. Some of the pieces of legislation to be examined include the Employment Rights Act and National Insurance and Social Security Act.

Interested persons may attend the workshop in person at FundAccess’ Pinfold Street, Bridgetown location, or online via the Zoom Platform. To register, click on the following link: https://bit.ly/3Fu09Jv.

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Centenarian Built On Firm Foundation Set By Grandmother

“Trust God first” is the mantra of one of Barbados’ newest centenarians, Athelstan Browne, who celebrated his 100th birthday on April 29, 2025, at his home in Montrose, Christ Church, surrounded by family and friends.

One of his specially invited guests was President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.

Mr. Browne shared that he grew up “not knowing a mummy” as his mother passed away at age 23, when he was two years old, and his brother was only one year old.

Crediting his grandmother for his upbringing, Mr. Brown remarked: “I had a real good, good grandmother that raised two of us, and everything we learn before we went to school, she taught us.”

Pointing to a humble yet deeply religious upbringing, Mr. Browne said: “I and my brother slept on the floor. Our grandmother spread things down there, and she just put the pillow under our head.”

He recalled that they had to sing the hymn “Under the Blood” before going to bed, and first thing in the morning before they had breakfast, which usually consisted of “a cup of tea and two biscuits”. Adding that the hymn was “our song”, Mr. Browne sang the hymn from memory.

Stressing that his grandmother was a great provider, he noted: “My grandmother had land, and she would work the land…. We would eat raw potato, raw okras, (green) peas, cucumbers…. The only thing we did not eat was raw yams and eddoes.”

Mr. Browne continues to enjoy his ground provisions “with a little rice”, as he likes his rice with green peas, and if available, chicken boiled with the rice. “I am a fish man,” he remarked, eating it either fried or with a “stew sauce”.

Continuing to nurture his Christian beliefs, he joined the Mount Ararat United Holy Church (currently in Dayrell’s Road, Christ Church) in 1967, at age 33, and has continued there ever since.

Once the Superintendent of the Sunday School at the church, Mr. Browne is still instrumental in providing leadership to the youth there. “I have a crowd of young people at church that love me…especially when I have to talk to them…. It is what they should hear and what they should have,” he said.

The centenarian was raised in Montrose, Christ Church, and attended the Christ Church Boys’ School (now Milton Lynch Primary School). After leaving school, Mr. Browne initially took to agriculture but then worked cutting soft stone in two quarries in Christ Church.

In 1947, at the age of 22, he decided to join the US Farm Labour Programme and took the first Pan American Airlines flight out of Barbados. Over 10 years later, Mr. Browne returned to Barbados and married Monica Browne (deceased). Together, they built the house where he currently resides.

Returning to his roots in agriculture, the centenarian worked at the Ridge Plantation, Christ Church, until retirement. He also planted and reaped ground produce at home, as well as planted and cut canes.

Mr. Browne, who is generally in good health and has a sharp memory, still works around the home and enjoys reading, which he does without glasses. He also keeps in touch with his family in New York and North Carolina, and will do some travelling, but he is always ready to return home.

After toasting the centenarian, Her Excellency remarked: “You are in the midst of a lot of love, and I am sure you are going to enjoy the rest of your birthday. I am really happy to have met you. I am grateful for the work that you still continue to do with our young people because a lot of them lack direction, and we, nowadays, don’t take enough time to sit down and speak with them…. We don’t remind them that they are important, that they are somebody.”

Mr. Browne responded: “You got to make them understand what … the Lord expects of them… We have to acknowledge the Lord.”

Mr. Browne has two children, 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. (PR/GIS)

Caption: President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, and Barbados’ newest centenarian Athelstan Browne take a walk outside during his birthday celebrations in Montrose, Christ Church