Sub standard consumer products on the increase:

Monetary rewards to nab errant traders

by Carol Aloysius

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) will launch a rewards scheme for those who help trap errant traders.

“The number of unscrupulous traders selling sub-standard consumer products has increased considerably.

This year alone several thousands of kilograms of food unfit for human consumption were detected during raids on warehouses and storage sites. Our net to trap these illegal vendors will be widened by offering monetary rewards to those who co-operate with us,” CAA Director General J.M.U. Douglas told the Sunday Observer yesterday. Initially it had been decided to give 25 percent of the fine paid by the errant vendor to the investigative officers who conducted the raid.

“The money will be from our own Fund. It will be divided among the four investigative officers conducting the raid.

Moreover, informants who helped nab these offenders will also be provided monetary incentives,” he said. His officers have been given a target to carry out at least 36 raids per month. “If they achieve this target they will get an additional monetary allowance,” he said, adding that currently the CAA has only 160 Investigative Officers for the entire island which is much less than the cadre.