Belize Celebrates Cooperatives as Catalysts for Change

Belize is putting the spotlight on cooperatives and their power to drive real change. Today, the country marked the International Day of Cooperatives with a national forum in Belize City, bringing together leaders, policymakers, and changemakers. The event kicked off with opening remarks from Registrar of Cooperatives Gareth Murillo, setting the tone for a day focused on innovation, inclusion, and economic resilience. Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai delivered the keynote, emphasizing how cooperatives are helping to build stronger rural communities and a more sustainable future. News Five’s Tanya Arceo was there and brings us the story.

 

Tanya Arceo, Reporting

When you think of cooperatives in Belize, agriculture might come to mind, and you’d be right. But there’s a lot more to the story. We caught up with Gareth Murillo, the Registrar of Cooperatives, who gave us a snapshot of the movement across the country. From sugarcane and livestock to women-led processing groups, Belize is home to sixty-nine registered cooperatives, most of them rooted in farming. But that’s not all. Transportation, hospitality, and especially the fishing sector are also thriving under the cooperative model.

 

Gareth Murillo, Registrar of Co-operatives

“I would argue that compared to our population our number of cooperatives and the number of cooperative members are relatively small part of the aim of our activity here is to improve on that publicity so that we are able to attract more inclusion from other sectors of the population if I may say this the majority of corporative members are what you would call grass roots persons the cooperative model allows people who may not necessarily be able to do so on their own to become a part of a  business to be a part owner, to be a collective owner and in that way they are able to share their resources, they’re able to share their capacities and to try and build a business together.”

 

And in a sweet twist to our coverage, quite literally, we also caught up with a couple of hardworking members from a local cooperative. They proudly showcased a variety of products they’re crafting, with a special spotlight on their high-quality honey. But it’s more than just delicious, it’s a lifeline. These products are helping sustain their families and fuel their local economy, proving that when communities come together, everyone thrives.

 

Ileanna Ayuso, Chairman, BCSL

“Today we are presenting some natural soaps which bis good for your skin we have the honey also that is produced by our cooperative we are like seven females working  in beekeeping and the rest are males we are 21 members at the moment we work together and also we have a food contract with BMDC that we produce every year so the product if you notice our honey has BMDC on it because they buy all our honey.”

 

Mariela Ramirez, Chairman, Prosperity Women’s Corporative

“I’m Mariela Ramirez I’m the chair for Prosperity Women’s Corporative from Orange Walk and here we have some local products to present we usually do honey bi products we do agro processing we do caterings and food sales in Orange Walk we are located in Orange Walk.”

 

Today’s forum was more than just a meeting, it was a powerful reminder of how cooperatives are helping shape stronger, more inclusive communities. From economic empowerment to sustainable development, when people work together, everyone benefits. As the conversation continues, cooperative leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders are gearing up to collaborate even more closely to build resilience and unlock new opportunities. Reporting for News Five, I’m Tanya Arceo. Tanya Arceo for News Five.