The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) is gearing up for a transformative expansion and reform, reinforcing its role in consumer protection and utilities regulation.
Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins, unveiled these changes during Monday’s Senate debate on the Appropriation Bill, 2025. She also announced that, effective April 1, attorney Brian Reece will take the helm as the new Chief Executive Officer of the FTC.
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Strengthening Oversight & Collaboration
To drive these reforms, Cummins revealed that key resources have been embedded within her ministry, with the Regulatory Authority for Public Utilities set to work alongside the FTC. This collaboration aims to modernize the commission’s framework, ensuring it effectively upholds the Utilities Regulation Act and Consumer Guarantees and Protection laws.
“The FTC has not undergone reform for as long as I can remember, if at all,” Cummins noted. “It plays a crucial role in enforcing consumer rights and regulating utilities, and we are eager to see the impact of the ongoing improvements.”
A New Strategic Direction
As part of its restructuring, the FTC will refine its operational strategies to better fulfill its dual mandates—consumer protection and utilities regulation. This realignment is reflected in the Government’s financial plans for the upcoming fiscal year.
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Cummins emphasized that while public discussions about the FTC often focus on utilities, its scope extends much further. As a quasi-judicial body, the FTC must maintain independence, and she reaffirmed that government ministers do not interfere in its decision-making process.
“It is not appropriate for a Minister of Energy, who oversees the FTC, to weigh in on cases before the commission. This Government does not engage in such practices,” she asserted.
Clearing Up Misconceptions
Addressing common misunderstandings about the FTC’s regulatory power, Cummins clarified that its authority in telecommunications applies only to fixed-line services and monopoly situations. “The FTC does not regulate mobile providers such as Digicel and Flow in terms of mobile services—its jurisdiction is limited to fixed-line telecommunications,” she explained.
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Bigger Team, Bigger Budget
The FTC’s expansion will include new personnel and increased funding, reinforcing its ability to regulate utilities effectively. Currently, the Commission operates with a Director of Utilities Regulation, an electricity analyst, and a single officer managing water service standards—a structure that is set to grow significantly under the new reforms.
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