Justice Minister Mr. Shalten Hato announces: Working on a simple, payable, and quick process for consumer cases.
WILLEMSTAD - Justice Minister Mr. Shalten Hato, along with the Consumer Foundation, shares the opinion that a process at the Court of Justice needs to be anchored in law where consumers can easily, quickly, and affordably seek justice when they believe their rights have been violated. Recently, Justice Minister Shalten Hato and a delegation from the Ministry of Economic Development met with the Consumer Foundation on the topic of "consumer protection."
For years, the Consumer Foundation has been advocating for the adaptation of our laws to establish a procedure in the Court that is straightforward and affordable for consumers. This will allow them to demand and obtain a court decision to compel a trader to fulfill their obligations to the consumer. A consumer can request the trader to pay a sum, for example, if they dissolved a purchase agreement, but they can also request a product replacement or repair. This is the case if, for instance, a product like a washing machine or refrigerator is found to be defective after purchase. At that point, the consumer can demand the trader to repair or replace the product. If, in any case, the trader is unwilling to do so, the consumer can dissolve the purchase agreement and demand a refund.
As the Minister of Justice, responsible for our rule of law and standing up for the rights of every consumer, I have joined this journey and committed to completing a draft law. This draft law ensures access to the court using an appropriate process for consumer cases at a much lower cost.
Court procedures can be lengthy and complex, and the expenses tied to a court process can be high, especially when compared to the purchase price of a product (such as a washing machine) or a service (like car repairs).
One of the benefits that this likely adaptation of the law will bring is that the quality of products and services in Curaçao will improve. This, undoubtedly, will contribute to the well-being of our entire community. After all, at the end of the day, we are all consumers!