First Mobile App for Consumers by “CAC” Launched Yesterday

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) made history yesterday (Dec 11, 2019) by launchingits firstmobile application for consumers in Jamaica. The CAC Jamaica Appwhich is made for Androids only is free and is extremely easy to use. The mobile Appmay be accessed via the Google Playstore.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry Agriculture and Fisheries Floyd Green, speaking at the launch of the CAC Jamaica App in Kingston said he was excited and pleased that he was able to give his audience a complete demonstration of the application.

“The CAC is launching this Mobile App to meet consumers who are demanding immediate, factual and interactive information to assist in purchasing decisions, in stores and online. It is one of the best pathways towards expanding the overall engagement and empowerment of consumers in 2019 and beyond” Minister Green said.

Consumers will be able to identify the geographical location of chosen outlets, compare prices and create baskets of goods they desire before making any purchase. In addition, users may access consumer news and laws, product recalls, market surveillance of the textbook prices, banking fees and rates, hardware itemsas well as any other economic operation that the Minister may deem necessary for research orinvestigation.TheCAC Jamaica Appmay be used to also file complaints.

Members of the CAC’s Board of Directors, Ms DaeniaAshpole and Mr Vernon Derby were on hand to test the CAC Jamaica App yesterday and both expressed their satisfaction with the continued digitization strategy of the Commission’s market surveillance activities.They were impressed with the work of the CAC and were proud that the Commission is one of those government agencies using technology to deliver improved services to the consumers.

“The CAC has given a beautiful Christmas gift to the people of Jamaica,” he added and congratulated the CAC team on this “significant achievement” Mr Derby said.

CEO of the Commission in her remarks noted that currently the CAC publishes a monthly survey of the grocery and petrol prices under the popular Consumer Alert!banner in the two major newspapers. However, the mobile application she emphasised, was developed in order to provide “on demand” access to information to a larger population of consumers.

The CAC Jamaica App is aim at strengthening the education, advocacy and engagement to increase confidence and vigilance among Jamaica’s consumers.