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Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs Golden Rock Shopping Center Administrative Complex Property & Procurement Building 3000 Estate Golden Rock, Suite 9 “The Battery” 8201 Subbase, Suite 1 St. Croix, VI 00820-4311 St. John, VI 00830 St. Thomas, VI 00802-5826 Telephone: 340.773.2226 Telephone: 340.693.8036 Telephone: 340.774.3130 Facsimile: 340.773.6982 Facsimile: 340.776.6989 Facsimile: 340.776.8303 PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT PERSON: DEVIN CARRINGTON, COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS Tuesday, February 24, 2015 DLCA ANNOUNCES NATIONAL CONSUMER PROTECTION AND WEIGHTS AND MEASURES WEEK MARCH 1-7, 2015 Devin Carrington, Commissioner Designee of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs (DLCA) is pleased to announce that the department will be celebrating the 17th Annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) and the Weights and Measures Week which both run from March 1 through March 7, 2015. During National Consumer Protection Week, the Consumer Protection Services staff on St. Thomas will conduct informational presentations on consumer protection issues at various elementary, junior high, and high schools throughout the territory. On St. Croix similar student presentations will take place at the office located in the Golden Rock Shopping Center. Inspectors from the Weights and Measures Unit which is a part of Consumer Protection Services Division will also be conducting in-school presentations and in-office sessions in order to expose students to the varied functions of weights and measures and how these functions affect our daily lives. These will take place at schools in St. Thomas and at the Golden Rock Office in St. Croix. Carrington stated, “Students are excellent conduits for disseminating information to parents and when we inform students we inform the entire family. We also begin the early, the process of cultivating wise young consumers.” Consumer Affairs Compliance Officers ensure that businesses don’t act in a deceptive and unfair manner towards consumers. They also resolve consumer complaints. Weights and Measures Inspectors are trained to ensure that gas pumps and scales, among other such measurement devices, are properly functioning to guarantee that the consumer is getting their money’s worth. The Inspectors also enforce all laws that relate to food freshness and quality, pricing and the contents of packaged goods. Throughout the week, information on consumer protection and weights and measures will be made available in the lobbies of DLCA offices on St. Thomas and St. Croix. “The purpose of these presentations is to equip consumers with the knowledge and tools to make wise purchases decisions, to get the most out of their money and to avoid potential risks”, Carrington said. To close off the week, both the Consumer Protection and Weights and Measures Units will host an open house on Friday, March 6, 2015 from 10am-2pm. The St. Thomas open house will be held in the Property & Procurement Conference room in Subbase on the first floor of the P&P Building. The St. Croix open house will be held at the DLCA office in the Golden Rock Shopping Center. The Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs invites the general public to come and learn more about consumer protection and weights and measures and what the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs is doing to protect all consumers. CPS staff will be on hand to share information and answer questions. There will also be a sign up sheet so consumers can provide contact information to receive email updates, tips, and press releases such as the weekly gas and food basket surveys which provide guidance on which retailers currently offer the lowest prices. “Serving Businesses and Assisting, Educating, & Protecting Consumers” www.dlca.vi.gov