Belmopan, April 24, 2026.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and New Growth Industries informs the public that on April 23, 2026, the Department of Co-operatives, which is responsible for the registration and regulation of co-operatives, held a double registration ceremony in Pomona Village, Stann Creek District, for two newly registered entities: the Southern Agro-Tourism Co-operative Society Limited of Pomona Village and the Dangriga Indigenous Farmers’ Co-operative Society Limited of Dangriga Town. Through this registration, these new co-operatives have transitioned from informal associations of small producers and service providers to formal enterprises operating under the department’s oversight.
The Southern Agro-Tourism Co-operative Society Limited comprises eighteen members, twelve males and six females, who will combine agricultural production and processing with tourism-related services. The Dangriga Indigenous Farmers’ Co-operative Society Limited comprises nineteen members, fifteen males and four females, who focus on agricultural production, mainly regional varieties of fruits and vegetables.
During the ceremony, Hon. Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and New Growth Industries and Area Representative for Stann Creek West, and Dr. Hon. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Constitution and Religious Affairs, Indigenous Affairs, and Transportation and Area Representative for Dangriga, delivered keynote addresses. His Lordship Robert Mariano, the Mayor of the Dangriga Town Council, was also in attendance.
Additional remarks were delivered by Mr. Gareth Murillo, Registrar of Co-operatives; Mr. Aaron Garbutt, Chairman of the Southern Agro-Tourism Co-operative Society Ltd.; and Mr. Timothy Lewis, Chairman of the Dangriga Indigenous Farmers’ Co-operative Society Ltd.
Ends
For more information, please contact:
Gareth Murillo
Registrar of Co-operatives
822-2241
