The creativity of members of the Co-operative movement in Barbados will be showcased when the Co-operatives Department of the Ministry of Energy and Business Development hosts a fair on Saturday, March 26.
The Co-operatives Fair will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on the grounds of Church Village Green, Central Bank of Barbados, Tom Adams Financial Centre, Church Village, Bridgetown, and members of the public are encouraged to attend.
On display will be a wide variety of products from a number of co-operatives, including those in the agricultural sector, such as Ujamaa and Addis Alem, and multipurpose co-operatives, such as Emerging Brands Barbados and the Women Entrepreneurs, both of which comprise clusters of small businesses with diverse skillsets. Other small businesses, Nature by Raina and Premier Enterprises, will also participate in the fair.
Items to be exhibited and sold include plants, condiments, coconut and turmeric oils, natural fruit juices, beauty products, sea glass jewellery, vases, candle holders, body and facial scrubs, shampoo bars, pillow covers, satin bonnets and natural soaps. DJ Glen will provide the music, and food will be on sale.
Registrar of Co-operatives, Brent Gittens, emphasised the importance of the fair, saying it would give the exhibitors another platform to showcase and sell their quality goods and services.
“In addition, the fair gives the public an opportunity to see that members of co-operatives are astute businessmen and women, entrepreneurs and innovators in the Barbadian marketplace,” Mr. Gittens stated.
The Registrar indicated that over the last three years, the movement had become more diverse and progressive with non-financial co-operatives being formed in new areas, such as construction; renewable energy, and sports.
“Co-operatives continue to demonstrate that, among other things, pooling resources together and working as a collective means that no individual needs to face the COVID-19 pandemic on their own,” he stated.
The public is reminded that COVID-19 protocols will be in place.