Africa-Press – Seychelles. The chief executive of the Fair Trading Commission (FTC), Nathalie Edmond, has presented a copy of the commission’s Annual Report for the year 2022 to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Roger Mancienne.
Mrs Edmond was accompanied by her deputy, Frederika Confait-Poussou, and the senior legal secretary, Sharon Andimignon.
Mrs Edmond stated that the report encapsulates the hard work done by the FTC during the past year and the additional efforts made to tackle issues ranging from language barriers on commodities, overpricing, wholesale, competition, issuing of fixed penalties, and an improvement in general education and advocacy.
Speaker Mancienne was informed that the Fair Trading Act that came into force in 2022 has allowed the FTC to curb ongoing malpractices. It was noted that the Commission listened to and acted on 144 public complaints in 2022 which spanned across several sectors, with most issues emanating from the construction industry.
Mrs Edmond also stated that FTC works closely with Comesa (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) to create mergers with the Comesa region to promote competition and ensure better quality and affordable prices.
In his remarks, Hon. Mancienne expressed his appreciation towards FTC, inclusive of the 100 plus inspectors, for expanding their roles while still facing many challenges.
The Speaker remarked that the public availability of the report “will encourage the public to come forward to inform FTC of discrepancies which will also encourage retailers and wholesalers to work equitably”.
He also advised the FTC to increase its sensitisation efforts and educational campaigns and continue to work efficiently as a team in order to receive and retain the public’s trust and support.
Mrs Edmond stated that “There are no entities that we cannot tackle”, emphasising that “even government entities participating in a competition will be fined if deemed necessary because we have to remove the perception that some people or entities are above the law, when in truth everyone who does not comply will be fined”.
It was also noted that the report reflects the work done by the FTC after its budget came under scrutiny in the National Assembly last year and also as per the recommendations made by members of the Assembly to go out to the public and improve on the Commission’s work.
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