The Tribune

MINISTER of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government V Alfred Gray told the final consultative workshop on repositioning and restructuring the Department of Cooperative Development, that “the reorganised co-operative department will become a respected, competent, authority responsible for marketing, developing, monitoring, and supervising registered societies, with emphasis on education, professional services and compliance.”

The workshop was held December 2 at the Russell Road offices of the Bahamas Co-operative League Limited, where participants discussed the national policy, the strategic plan, the new Bill, and the new regulations.

Minister Gray said the department, subsidised by an annual government grant, will exert greater control over its expenditure and revenue generation, and this will allow it to operate with greater flexibility, efficiency and vigour, and help it respond in a timely manner to the ever-changing needs and opportunities facing client enterprises.

“The department will focus on improving the organisational management and financial skills of members, employees and leaders of registered co-operatives, who will also be empowered to access new technologies to improve relevance and profitability,” said Mr Gray.

He said the operations of the producer/services co-operatives will be strengthened through collaboration with various departments and agencies such as the departments of Agriculture and Marine Resources, the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Society (BAIC), the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDA), the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The Department of Co-operatives believes that by stirring up new passion in the sector, their efforts will result in greater efficiencies and higher productivity, a more inclusive sector strategy that will positively impact the macro-economic landscape, the creation of more jobs and increased income, and stimulation of growth through youth empowerment, innovation, and improved management.

Mr Gray said with effective marketing, the general public will be made aware of the nature, uniqueness, and benefits of co-operatives.

He said it is anticipated that the department will identify and strengthen at least four vibrant, model co-ops each year for the next three years from the services, agriculture and fisheries sectors.

He added that the current youth models will be revised to become more relevant and at least 15 schools will be participating “with an average of 100 members each and $35,000 saved per school”.

Mr Gray said in order for all this to come to fruition, a broader base of professional disciplines and fresh talents will be required for stimulating new confidence in the reliability of the department.

“Careful recruitment and appointment of trainable persons with the right attitude, specialised knowledge and competencies will make the breakthrough for the re-engineered process and the new co-ops dispensation,” said Mr Gray.