The Barbados Consumer Empowerment Network (BCEN) has called on CARICOM governments to establish a regional utility regulator to address persistent disparities in the price and quality of essential services across the Caribbean. Speaking after her participation in a global conference on competition and consumer protection, BCEN Chair Maureen Holder emphasized the need for a multilateral regulator to standardize oversight of critical services such as energy, telecommunications, and water. Holder suggested that the CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC) could be repositioned to fulfill this role, though it currently lacks the necessary framework. She argued that a unified regulatory body would ensure fairness and stability in markets, particularly in small island nations where limited competition often leaves consumers with few choices and high costs. Holder highlighted BCEN’s growing influence in international and regional policymaking, noting its contributions to discussions on competition, fair markets, and consumer protection. She recently represented Barbados at the 9th United Nations Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection in Geneva, where she engaged with global leaders to address challenges facing consumers in small developing economies. The conference, organized by UNCTAD, serves as a platform for reviewing international best practices and coordinating global approaches to consumer protection. Holder stressed that small states like Barbados must actively participate in such forums to ensure their concerns are acknowledged and addressed at the highest levels.