Training workshop on Competition Law and Policy – Dominica
Last 27th of April took place in Dominica a one day seminar to inform local stakeholders about the basics of competition law, the competition laws and national competition authorities in CARIFORUM, the role of competition law in the EPA and the role of civil society in the enforcement of competition law.
In total, twenty participants representing a wide cross-section of stakeholders in Dominica, including representatives from the Dominican Bar Association, sector regulators, the media, Government ministries, the private business sector and the local non-Government consumer rights organization attended to the workshop.
Mr. Matthan Walter, Director of Trade in the Government of Dominica, welcomed participants and noted that while that Dominica, like the rest of the other OECS member states, did not have a national competition law, he hoped that training would present information on how competition law can impact positively on Dominican consumers. Ms. Careen Prevost, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, then welcomed the participants and thanked the EU for funding the workshop on what she described as an important issue for Dominica. The Permanent Secretary suggested that the focus of the workshop could be on the emerging and evolving competition regimes in CARIFORUM and the relationships between the various institutions and courts of the region where the these regimes are being implemented.
The presenter, Mr. Rommell Hippolyte, Research Economist of CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC), conducted a very interactive session that addressed the expectations of the Director of Trade and the Permanent Secretary and facilitated the exchange of ideas on relevant topics and clarifications on areas of concern to participants.
The Training Course is an output of the CARIFORUM/EU Capacity Building Project which is funded under the 10th EDF. The project’s overall objective is to support CARIFORUM Member States’ beneficial integration in the world economy. Specifically, it seeks to help member states to implement their EPA commitments in the areas of Competition, Procurement and Customs and Trade Facilitation. A consortium led by Equinoccio (Spain) which includes the London School of Economics, SGS and Maastricht School of Management is implementing the project.