The co-operative movement and its importance will be highlighted soon, when activities are held to observe International Day of Co-operatives, on Saturday, July 1.
Cooperatives: Partners for Accelerated Sustainable Development, is the theme of this year’s celebrations, and the Co-operatives Department of the Ministry of Energy and Business will be hosting two events.
Activities in Barbados will begin on Sunday, June 25, with a service at the St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church, Corner of 7th Avenue Belleville and George Street, St. Michael, starting at 8:00 a.m. Members of the co-operative movement and the public are encouraged to attend.
A Village-A-Fair will be held on Saturday, July 1, at the Golden Square Freedom Park, Bridgetown, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. A number of co-operatives will be displaying their innovative products, and offering various services.
They include some in the agricultural sector, such as Ujamaa and the Organic Growers Co-operatives, as well as Emerging Brands Barbados and the Women Entrepreneurial Co-operatives, which are multipurpose societiescomprising clusters of small businesses with different skillsets.
The items on sale will include agricultural produce, plants, tie-dye shirts, skin care products, wines and liqueurs, crochet, natural fruit juices, jewellery, craft and custom-made bags. There will also be pork and vegetarian sampling between 9:00 a.m. and noon.
Free Health checks will be provided by the Diabetes and Hypertension Association of Barbados, while manicure services will be offered by the Caribbean Cosmetology Academy.
Entertainment will be provided throughout the day and will include the co-op band, a fashion show by Team Samali, steel pan by Elanjay, Dance Machine and Co-op resident DJ Glen. Food and refreshments will be on sale.
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 42 non-financial co-operatives registered in various sectors, including construction, transport, agriculture, and renewable energy. (PR)
