The search has begun to find ‘everyday islanders’ to become part of Jersey’s Consumer Council and help form an exciting new approach to tackling and highlighting consumer issues.
Under the leadership of newly-elected Chairman Carl Walker, a broader membership will help shape the views of the Consumer Council by drawing on their day-to-day experiences of island life, especially in an ever more challenging economy.
From simply doing the weekend shopping to buying a car or house, there will be those living in Jersey who will know that even the smallest of decisions or changes can have the biggest of impacts.
Whether students struggling to make ends meet and parents trying hard to juggle the household finances or those living on income support and the elderly finding life hard on a low income, all have something important to offer and their input and experience is needed.
Therefore, anyone with an interest in consumer matters or who thinks they have something that can make a difference is being invited to apply to become a member of the Council.
Mr Walker said: “It is vital, in my view, that as the new Chairman of the Council I can sit in front of a politician, a business leader or industry body and be sure that I am relaying the views and expressing the concerns of consumers in this island. To do this, we need a broader pool of people involved, so that we can build on the good work already done and take that message forward with confidence.
“Each and every one of us is a consumer and we all have mixed experiences. To some people in Jersey, a small change to a service – good or bad – can make a huge difference and the decision makers behind those changes should know the impact that their decisions can have.
“Therefore, I would like to form a Council which is made up of a cross-section of the community so that all consumers are being represented. That way we can ensure that they are getting fair representation and that their voices will be heard.”
The appeal for new members comes as the terms of office of many of the existing Consumer Council members comes to an end. However, those industry experts and business leaders who make up the existing panel are being invited to become Consumer Council Advisers, who will be available to be called upon when needed to give advice and also to help modernise the Consumer Council’s constitution and terms of reference, which is in need of updating.
Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Consumer Council can contact the JCC to find out more of what would be involved in the role. Those people who have already responded through the appeal in the latest edition of the Consumer Council magazine will be contacted in the coming weeks.
