St Kitts-Nevis celebrates International Co-operatives Day with 2 weeks of activities

The Department of Co-operatives in collaboration with the local co-operative movement and allied agencies in St. Kitts-Nevis is celebrating Co-op Week 2019 from June 23 to July 06 under the international theme "COOPS 4 Decent Work".

In his address to declare the 2019 programme of activities in celebration of International Co-operatives Day officially opened, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, said that it is important to celebrate with co-operatives in the Federation as their work is extremely important.

"Our hard working farmers, who are members of local farmers' co-operatives, work hard on their respective farms to produce food for local consumption. They work mostly from sunrise to sunset, performing decent work and so deserve a market with fair prices for their goods," said Minister Hamilton. "Our agro-processing co-operatives produce wine, chips, green seasoning, and sauces through decent work and also deserve a market of fair prices for their goods. Our credit unions provide financial services for individual members and other co-operatives; and are known to provide decent employment for members as they work in comfortable conditions and in a healthy environment of which we can all be proud."

The agriculture minister added that "we have much to celebrate as a country that promotes local co-operative movements."

"Much has been achieved with support from the Department of Co-operatives," he said, while commending and congratulating staff for coordinating a third annual programme of activities in celebration of International Co-operatives Day, which will be celebrated on Saturday, July 06.

The remaining activities for Co-operatives Week in St. Kitts and Nevis include the first ever Sorrel Festival on the Frigate Bay Road between Newtown play field and TDC on June 26, with a repeat on June 29. At the same venue on June 27, the Agro-Strip local vegetables, fruits, processed goods, meat, will be available. Primary schools on the island will benefit from discussions with practitioners in co-operatives on July 02, and on July 04, an awards dinner and ceremony will be held at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Conference Room.

Minister Hamilton will deliver the International Co-operative Day message on ZIZ Radio and Television on July 06. Of significant importance is the annual ceremony celebrating the reopening of the Sandy Point Public Market by the Sandy Point Agricultural Co-operative Society Ltd on the afternoon of July 06 at the Sandy Point Public Market.

He encouraged all co-operative societies to get actively involved in making the 2019 celebration "a memorable and rewarding experience."