Barbados to start new co-operative society for sports

Barbados would be having new sport-related cooperative arrangements under Barbados Sports Co-operative Society Limited. The new structure would be aiming at the creation of a space for the members to grow and develop their skills in the sport they play while contributing to the overall development of a national sporting industry.

Those would be in the sporting sector of Barbados or related to the industry would be getting the membership of this sports cooperative society. According to the government, athletes, clubs, federations and institutions, as well as sport-related professionals and entrepreneurs

Brent Gittens, Registrar of Cooperatives and Friendly Societies in Barbados, said that the Society has been welcoming the initiatives that would be a contribution to the growth and the development of the local sports sector and development of the players.

Brent Gittens, Registrar of Cooperatives and Friendly Societies in Barbados, said that the establishment of the BSCSL meant that, among other things, the Society had the capability to increase national engagement in sports and physical activity and become a democratic mechanism for wealth creation for its members. Additionally, it would be serving as a strong support structure for all Barbadian athletes whilst integrating cooperative values such as equality, cooperation and solidarity for everyone.

Jamal Slocombe, Interim President and one of the Co-Founders of the BSCSL, said that one of the objectives of the Co-operative has been to assist the sporting sector in becoming more self-sustainable, adding that there would be many potential benefits for members.

Jamal Slocombe said that they want to support a diverse group of sporting professionals, from athletes and administrators to sports entrepreneurs and even fans. The Co-operative would be aiming to provide access to funding-support for athletes, seed funding for sporting entrepreneurs, as well as scholarships while offering members an opportunity to reap attractive dividends on their investment. There have been no limits to what the Co-operative could achieve, as long as Barbadians came together and invest in the initiative.