On June 18, 2024, the second day of the Workshop on Competition Law Enforcement in Castries, Saint Lucia, continued to build momentum, offering participants a wealth of knowledge and practical insights into competition law enforcement.

The day began with a compelling presentation by Mr. Rommell Hippolyte, an economist at the CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC). Mr. Hippolyte delved into the practical aspects and tools for cartel enforcement, highlighting suspicious bidding patterns in Mexico and Portugal. These real-world examples provided participants with a concrete understanding of how to detect and address cartel behaviours in public procurement processes.

Following Mr. Hippolyte, Mr. Marc Jones, Senior Legal Counsel at the CCC, took the stage to discuss mergers. Mr. Jones explained the various types of transactions that constitute a merger under competition law and elaborated on the theories of competitive harm associated with horizontal mergers. He also outlined the merger notification process and the potential decisions a competition authority might make regarding mergers, ensuring participants understood both the procedural and substantive aspects of merger control.

Ms. Nievia Ramsundar, Executive Director at the CCC, then presented on international best practices for establishing institutional frameworks for competition enforcement. She introduced the LITER concept, which stands for Legitimacy, Independence, Transparency, Effectiveness, and Resources, and discussed potential institutional structures Saint Lucia could consider. Ms. Ramsundar followed up with another presentation on international best practices for the legislative framework for competition enforcement, emphasising the need for a robust legal foundation to support effective competition policy.

The afternoon sessions featured valuable insights from Mr. David Miller, Executive Director of the Jamaica Fair Trading Commission, and Mr. Bevan Narinesingh, Executive Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Fair Trading Commission. Both directors shared the origins of their respective institutions, detailing their roles and functions, enforcement experiences, and the challenges they have faced. They also discussed strategies to overcome these challenges, providing participants with practical examples of navigating the complexities of competition law enforcement.

Overall, the second day of the workshop offered a comprehensive overview of key areas in competition law enforcement, from cartel detection to merger control and institutional best practices. The presentations enhanced participants’ understanding and equipped them with practical tools and strategies to implement effective competition policies in Saint Lucia. The insights gained from these sessions will be invaluable as the country continues its journey towards establishing a national competition law and authority.