Events Calendar

Speaking Notes for February 24th 2022 Press Briefing

The Fair Trading Commission participated in the CAC/FTC Press Briefing on February 24, 2022, at which Mr. David Miller, Executive Director spoke about the FTC’s recent work and the way forward.  Mr. Miller’s presentation is attached.

Speaking Notes for February 24th 2022 Press Briefing

The Impact of Telemedicine on Competition and Innovation in Health Care

On January 30, 2022, Kevin Harriott, Competition Bureau Chief, participated in a Webinar on the theme “Ethics of Telemedicine & Social Media Use among Medical Professionals” hosted by Medical Council of Jamaica. In his presentation, Dr. Harriott highlighted the potential for telemedicine to enhance competition in the delivery of health care services in Jamaica and identified the primary threats to realising these benefits.

The Impact of Telemedicine on Competition and Innovation in Health Care

Study of Nursing Homes Sector in Jamaica

In November 2021, the FTC completed its study on the nursing homes sector. The study examined issues that may affect the efficient functioning of the sector and focused specifically on the availability of information on nursing homes, access to terms and services, and access to making complaints. Nursing homes provide services for the vulnerable segment of the population and therefore a well-functioning sector would allow for (i) informed decision making on the part of consumers; and (ii) competitive pressure on providers thereby improving the quality of service available and increasing choices of registered nursing homes in Jamaica.

The FTC concluded that it is difficult for individuals to obtain relevant information to assess the desirability of a given nursing home. Additionally, the lack of adequate resources to monitor nursing homes have implications for the efficient functioning of the sector.

To improve the functioning of the nursing homes sector, the FTC recommends that: (i) The MoHW provide adequate resources to the Institutions and Facilities Unit to carry out its functions; (ii) Information regarding complaints procedure and redress system should be more readily available to the public; and (iii) It should be mandatory for nursing homes to provide certain information to the public.

Click the link below to access the full Report.

FTC Study on the Nursing Home Sector in Jamaica

19th Annual Shirley Playfair Lecture

The FTC hosted the 19^th Annual Shirley Playfair Lecture on December 8, 2021 under the theme “Integrating Competition Law and Consumer Protection Law: Optimizing Consumer Welfare.” Mr. Stephen Calkins, Professor of Law from the Wayne State University, delivered the Lecture where he highlighted the usefulness of a single authority enforcing competition law and consumer protection law and also described issues, concerns and challenges from institutional, legal, operational, marketing, and staffing perspectives.

18th Annual Shirley Playfair Lecture

The FTC hosted the 18th Annual Shirley Playfair Lecture in November 2020 under the theme “Protecting Competitive Markets and Consumer Welfare during and Post COVID-19 Pandemic.” By way of a panel discussion, the lecture highlighted the range of measures implemented by competition authorities in response to the perceived threat posed by the pandemic. It also addressed the relevance of competition law to the protection of consumer welfare.

FTC 25th Anniversary Church Service

The Staff, Commissioners and well-wishers of the Fair Trading Commission worshipped at Providence Methodist Church, 132 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6 on Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 9:00am as part of the Commission’s 25^th anniversary celebrations. 

FTC Participates in JIS Think Tank Session

As part of its 25^th anniversary celebrations, the FTC  participated in a Think Tank session with the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) on August 24, 2018 at 9:00am. This medium was used to inform the business community, consumers and our stakeholders of the FTC’s history and achievements over the past 25 years, as well as aspects of the way forward for the development of competition law in Jamaica. Dr. Derrick McKoy, Chairman; Mr. David Miller, Executive Director; Dr. Delroy Beckford, Senior Legal Counsel; and Dr. Kevin Harriott, Competition Bureau Chief  participated in the session.

See the links below for more information on the session.

https://jis.gov.jm/fair-trading-commission-promotes-competitive-markets/

https://jis.gov.jm/fair-trading-commission-developing-merger-review-framework/

Shirley Playfair Lecture 2017

On February 22, 2017, the  FTC hosted its  17^th lecture in the Shirley Playfair Lecture Series, under the theme “The Quest for Growth: Competition and Industrial Policy, Complementary or Estranged Bedfellows“. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Peter-John Gordon, former Chairman and Commissioner of the FTC and current Lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University of the West Indies.

FTC hosts Competition Day Seminar

On September 23, 2015, the FTC hosted a Competition Day Seminar at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, at which the topic “Transforming Jamaica Digitally: From Flintstones to Jetsons” was explored.

The following are links to media coverage of the Seminar.

Jamaica Information Service:

http://jis.gov.jm/liberalisation-of-telecoms-industry-notable-milestone-robinson/

Jamaica Information Service:

http://jis.gov.jm/enabling-environment-necessary-for-competition-to-thrive/

Shirley Playfair Lecture 2014

On September 9, 2014, the  FTC hosted its  15^th lecture in the Annual Shirley Playfair Lecture Series, under the theme “Competing in the Hub”.

Dr. Eric Deans, Chairman, Logistics Hub Taskforce- Opening RemarksDr. Fritz Pinnock, Executive Director, Caribbean Maritime Institute- Presentation: Competing in the HubPhoto Gallery