A final consultative workshop on repositioning and restructuring of the Department of Cooperative Development has been told that the department will be allowed greater flexibility that will enable it to respond in a timely manner to the ever-changing needs and opportunities facing its client enterprises.
Addressing the workshop, held December 2, Minister of Agriculture Marine Resources and Local Government V. Alfred Gray said that the 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 at the Russell Road offices of the Bahamas Cooperative League Limited, where participants discussed the national policy, the strategic plan, the new bill, and regulations.
Gray said the department, subsidized by an annual government grant, will exert greater control over its expenditure and revenue generation, and will be allowed to operate with "greater flexibility, efficiency and vigor".
"The department will focus on improving the organizational management and financial skills of members, employees and leaders of registered cooperatives, who will also be empowered to access new technologies to improve relevance and profitability," said Gray.
He said the operations of the producer/services cooperatives 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 Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The Department of Cooperatives believes that by stirring up a 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.
Gray said with effective marketing the general public will be made aware of the nature, uniqueness, and benefits of cooperatives.
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.
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 of cooperative development.
"Careful recruitment and appointment of trainable persons with the right attitude, specialized knowledge and competencies will make the breakthrough for the re-engineered process and the new co-ops dispensation," said Gray.

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