The executive director of the National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (Pro Consumidor), Eddy Alcántara rejected the Third Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) ruling that establishes the Pro Consumer Agency cannot levy fines.
Eddy Alcantara of Pro Consumidor says that the agency can apply fines as it operates under its Norm 358-05 that the Constitutional Court ratified. The Constitutional Court is the highest court in the country.
Alcántara cited Art. 184 of the Constitution that establishes that the decisions of the Constitutional Court are final and irrevocable and constitute binding precedents for the public authorities and all state agencies.”
“Pro Consumidor will not allow that by compromises or not, the rights of consumers are affected so that a particular company is allowed to continue with abusive practices to the detriment of consumers, which in the end are all Dominicans,” he added.
The official spoke during a press conference held on Monday, 9 August 2021 at Pro Consumidor. Also present were Johanna Calderón, Legal Director; Carlos Divanna, in charge of Conciliation, and Rubén Carela, in charge of the Litigation Division.
Alcantara said the agency would file an appeal. It seeks that the Supreme Court of Justice magistrates responsible for the decision “rectify their position and thus avoid maintaining a confrontation of criteria with the supreme body in jurisdictional matters and guarantor of consumer rights, which is the Constitutional Court of the Dominican Republic.”
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N Digital
DR1 News
10 August 2021