The importance of the co-operative movement will be highlighted and its benefits shared when several activities are held to observe International Day of Co-operatives, on Saturday, July 6.
Cooperatives Build a Better Future for All is the theme of this year’s celebrations, and the Co-operatives Department of the Ministry of Energy and Business and its stakeholders will host the events to bring further attention to the movement.
There will be a service on Sunday, June 30, at the Carrington Wesleyan Holiness Church, Welches Road, St. Michael, starting at 10:00 a.m. Members of the co-operative movement and the public are encouraged to attend.
On Wednesday, July 3, there will be a half-day conference, which will feature a discussion on Enhancing Ownership through the Co-operative Business Model. Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Browne of Co-op Energy and Oriel Doyle of the Co-operatives Investment Fund will lead the discussions.
A Co-operative Fair will be held on Saturday, July 6, to celebrate International Day of Co-operatives at the Church Village Green, Central Bank, St. Michael, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Several co-operatives will display their innovative products and offer various services, including the Women Entrepreneurs, Emerging Brands, Pinnacle, Unified Trust, and Pig Farmers’ Co-operatives.
Items on sale will include bath and beauty products, clothing, art and craft pieces, locally made soaps, plants, agricultural produce, jewellery, custom-made bags, confectionery, and women’s accessories.
Free health checks will be provided by the Diabetes and Hypertension Association of Barbados. Additionally, there will be vegetarian food samples by Pinnacle Co-operative, and pork samples from the Pig Farmers’ Co-operative, which will be prepared by Dr. Phil’s Kitchen. Other food and refreshments will be on sale.
Entertainment will be provided throughout the day and will include Resident DJ Sweet Tunes Entertainment; skilled steelpanplayer, Elan Marie Jordan, of ELANJAY; Dance Machine, a Co-op band; and a fashion show by Telra Promotions.
International Day of Co-operatives is celebrated annually on the first Saturday in July. The objective of the day is to increase awareness of co-operatives and promote the movement’s ideas of international solidarity, economic efficiency, equality, and world peace.
There are approximately three million co-operatives in the world, and at least 12 per cent of the world’s population are members of the movement. In Barbados, there are 35 non-financial co-operatives registered in various sectors, including construction, transport, agriculture, and renewable energy.