 Hi, I am Alicia Williams-David, Information Officer at the Consumer Affairs Department of the Ministry of Commerce, and today I am very pleased to share with you some shopping tips, especially in these unprecedented times. As in Lucia, like the rest of the world grapples with the spread of COVID-19, the Consumer Affairs Department of the Ministry of Commerce urges consumers to adhere to the established protocols by the Ministry of Health and be extremely vigilant and responsible when shopping. Consumers are strongly encouraged to practice the following, before leaving your home, make a shopping list and as much as possible consumers stick to it. This will assist in limiting the amount of time that you spend at the supermarkets and the pharmacies or at the different stores that you go to. Read your labels. Ensure that you can read and understand the labels of the products that you intend to purchase. And I will tell you, avoid purchasing products which have no labels or products which have labels in a language that you do not understand. When you are shopping, pay particular attention to the expiry date of a product. The expiry date basically is the last date that a product should be used before it is considered spoiled or ineffective. After the expiry date, the product may not have the same nutrient content declared on the label. So I repeat, avoid consuming or purchasing expired goods. Similarly, you should exercise absolute care when purchasing food items that are on sale. In addition to checking the expiry date, you need to check for any dented cans. It may be tempting to buy dented cans that are on special or on sale, but the bargain is not worth it. Consumers I cannot overemphasize the need for you to examine all goods thoroughly in the store before paying. Taking this precaution will reduce the risk of purchasing an item that is defective. If you are buying appliances, ensure that it is tested before leaving the store. Do not be afraid to ask questions. In fact, it is your responsibility to do so. Ask about the guarantees or warranty of all appliances. Always ensure that you are given a bill or a receipt after your purchase. A receipt is extremely important. Should there be a legitimate reason to return an item to the place of purchase, a receipt serves as proof of purchase. Now if you are buying on higher purchase, do not sign the higher purchase agreement until you have read every word in the agreement. Online shopping is now a very popular option for many consumers and so if you intend to shop online, please ensure that the website you are purchasing from is secure. If a website is secured, you will see the image of a closed padlock next to the web address. Similarly, if a site is not secured, you may see an unlocked padlock. However, browsers such as Google Chrome will tell you if a website is not secured. This may sound a bit obvious but consumers should never give out bank account details, credit card numbers or other personal details if they are not certain that a business is a repeatable trader. Protect your card and PID numbers at all times. Never disclose your card verification number to anyone and your card verification number is a three digit number at the back of your debit or credit card. Always verify that the exact amount is charged against your card. Consumers should also avoid online shopping when using public Wi-Fi networks as you may never know if your information is being tracked. Equally important is ensuring that you read and understand the terms and conditions of sale, the refund policy, the delivery details, returns and repair policies and of course the reviews and comments from other customers. Always ensure that the goods that you are purchasing from overseas comply with the St. Lucia Bureau of Standards, safety standards in relation to electrical products. Now during the Christmas season, there is an increased demand for local meat products and so when purchasing local meat from butchers, always ensure you look for the inspected and past stamp which indicates that the meat has been inspected for wholesomeness by officers of the Department of Environmental Health. The Consumer Affairs Department urges all consumers to be responsible and shop wisely. Remember to practice social distancing and at all times remain safe.