Thanks to social media and the widespread use of mobile
devices which can take pictures we’ve seen quick dissemination of horror
stories in various eateries. In time,
hopefully, those who operate and work in restaurants big and small, well-known
and nondescript, those in Colombo as well as those far away from the capital,
will get their act together or else be forced to close down shop.
Consumer awareness coupled with a sense of social
responsibility that prompts quick action of the ‘get the word out’ no doubt
helps, but this is not to say that a) those responsible for ensuring that the
consumer is protected do nothing, and b) archaic laws are not revisited and overhauled.
Dr Ruwan Wijayamuni, the Chief Medical Officer of the
Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) put it in very clear terms. He had apparently taken a food outlet to
court last week and the court had set a date in April 2015 to hear the
case. By that time,
he says, the management could have changed hands, the owners may not turn up or
shift operations elsewhere.
The law, then, stands in the way. Dr Wijayamuni used the words ‘tedious’ and ‘frustrating’
to describe the state of affairs. He
calls for an overhaul of the Food Act.
He is correct. There’s only so much that his office can
accomplish in the absence of robust legislation which makes for effective
enforcement of regulations. Indeed,
overhauling is not a ‘need’ that is limited to the Food Act. Despite the many raids carried out by the
Consumer Affairs Authority in recent times, it is clear that the consumer is
hardly protected from the machinations that seek to hoodwink, cheat and even
poison them.
The market is chock-full of expired drugs, cosmetics and
food items. The service sector is as
bad. False promises, exaggerated claims,
non-delivery and little recourse to redress paint a poor picture of how things
stand. It works for politicians,
political parties and election manifestos too and there lies the irony for it
is these very people who are entrusted with the responsibility of correcting
things.
The media does its part.
‘Does its part’ to sustain this sorry state of affairs, that is. Sensationalism sells, this is known, but when
it comes to corporate cheats there’s hardly a murmur from the media (in
general), forget going to town with banner headlines, follow-up stories, naming
and shaming.
Siripala is convicted of murdering Ranmenika and it’s a
big story. The lives of the murderer and
the murdered will be laid out, personality quirks identified and analyzed and
the fate of secondary victims (close family members for example) will be
featured. If there’s medical negligence leading
to death, then we would hear about ‘a prominent private hospital in such and
such a place’. No names. No shame. Unless of course a doctor attached to a state
medical facility, overworked and underpaid, errs. That’s ‘better news’.
This is where social media emerges as a far more reliable
ally of the consumer. It is a good
thing. Necessary of course, but certainly
not sufficient. In the long run, what
matters is robust laws and effective enforcing mechanism. And of course appropriate follow up (read ‘punishment
that hurts’).
It is high time that the relevant authorities including
those in Parliament listen to the likes
of Dr Ruwan Wijayamuni and take appropriate action on behalf of the consumers. The Food Act is a good place to start.
1 comments:
You are absolutely right. More and More and more horrow stories are emerging about food outlets which are now clogging our streets. The stories apply to big-name hotels as well. Very little action is taken.
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