Group Cancels Plans To Host “Ag Show”
[Updated with Govt. response] The community action group heading up efforts to host the Ag Show said they had to “call it quits after receiving notification from Government that they cannot use the Botanical Gardens on the requested dates.”
The Ag Show, which is normally hosted by Government, was cancelled due to financial reasons, with the event normally costing around $400,000 to stage.
The annual event, which attracts thousands of people each year, normally takes place at the Botanical Gardens over a three day period, and involves an equestrian competition, and a wide array of exhibits including animals, baked goods, plants, flower arrangements, crafts and more.
A group, spearheaded by Jeff Sousa, launched an initiative to put on the event, and last month Mr. Sousa said the event would be taking place on April 16th, 17th and 18th, with the “community driven effort put on for the community.”
However in a statement today, the group said they “had to call it quits after receiving notification from Government that they cannot use the Botanical Gardens on the requested dates, Thursday April 16th to Saturday April 18th.
“We are obviously extremely disappointed by Government’s decision not to allow us to use the public Gardens for our planned three day show. Especially after receiving initial, in-principle approval,” a spokesperson said.
The full statement from the group follows below
The community action group, spearheaded by concerned citizen Jeff Sousa, heading up efforts to host the ‘Ag Show’ in place of the annual Agriculture Exhibition has had to call it quits after receiving notification from Government that they cannot use the Botanical Gardens on the requested dates, Thursday April 16th to Saturday April 18th.
In making the announcement a spokesperson for the action group stated “We are obviously extremely disappointed by Government’s decision not to allow us to use the public Gardens for our planned three day show. Especially after receiving initial, in-principle approval.”
The spokesperson went on to note “In good faith that the event would be held as scheduled, the committee has been working tirelessly behind the scenes donating literally hundreds of hours to the event.”
One of the first things the group of 13 tasked with staging the Show did was to incorporate a company by way of limited guarantee, for charitable purposes, in order to adequately safeguard the funds donated by private and corporate sponsors.
The bye-laws of the company clearly state that if the company is wound down, any proceeds would be disbursed to local charities. However, with uncertainty hanging over the event, the fund raising committee had intentionally withheld receipt of committed funds, pending the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] with the Government.
The limited company also served to protect the personal assets of the guarantors and other committee members. Alongside a $5 million insurance liability policy.
“Much has been said about why we set up the company and those who might have wished to malign the efforts of the community action group may have suggested that our intent was less than honourable, while nothing could be farther from the truth” the spokesperson went on to say.
“Everyone on the committee was a volunteer, no matter how many hours they spent organizing volunteers, exhibitors and negotiating the terms of reference with Government, no one was paid.”
While in negotiations with Government over the MOU, the committee was asked to withhold from making any public statements on the planned event, thus rendering it impossible for them to explain to the public why and how things were being done.
Disappointing as the Government’s decision is to us, we are deeply sadden for the children of Bermuda who have already started preparing their exhibits for the show.
This is their event, an opportunity to showcase their considerable talents before a huge audience, and it has been taken away from them. We are equally sorry to have let down all the teachers and schools which have supported our efforts.
Then there are the charity food vendors, who rely on the Exhibition to raise much needed fund for their grassroots community programmes.
Government has had to cut charity programme funding left right and centre, now they have taken their ability to make money on their own. Inevitably certain programmes will now have to be cut, leaving Bermudians in dire need, to once more do without.
The annual Agricultural Exhibition is a true Bermudian tradition, 76 years in the making. There may be no other event on the Bermuda calendar that comes close to representing the true mosaic that makes up the fabric of Bermuda. Now it may be lost forever.
Update 6.39pm: In response, Minister of Public Works Craig Cannonier said, “I think it is important to note that Government has previously stated that the Agricultural Exhibition would be suspended this year. Government recognizes the important cultural and educational significance of this annual event.
“The Department of Parks had worked diligently to assist with the organizers however there were some aspects and requests that we were unable to accede to due to potential legalities and liabilities,” added Minister Cannonier.
“Additionally, despite our effort to repair the damaged buildings and trees in the grounds, some areas would not have been available for the show due to safety and health reasons. In spite of the major challenges, we were willing to offer Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19 as the proposed dates.
“This afternoon we learned that the organizers have decided to cancel the event.”
Minister Cannonier’s full statement follows below:
“I think it is important to note that Government has previously stated that the Agricultural Exhibition would be suspended this year. Government recognizes the important cultural and educational significance of this annual event.
“That said, for the past two weeks, I can confirm that I have been in communication with the organizers who wish to produce the Agriculture Exhibition.
“Yesterday, we presented the organizers with a Memorandum of Understanding based on what had been previously discussed. The Ministry of Public Works entered into the MOU in full faith that the organizers could stage the event.
“We are well aware of what a massive undertaking it is to produce the annual Agricultural Exhibition. In fact, I must take this opportunity to commend the Department of Parks and Public Works staff for the many years they have produced the event.
“The amount of work that goes into producing this work is staggering. As the producers of the Agricultural Exhibition, we have a deep understanding of the hard work and dedication that goes into making the show a success.
“In drafting the MOU the Ministry staff identified the work that would need to take place before we could set a date. Remediation work had to be carried out on many of the exhibit buildings and grounds.
“The Department of Parks had worked diligently to assist with the organizers however there were some aspects and requests that we were unable to accede to due to potential legalities and liabilities.
“Additionally, despite our effort to repair the damaged buildings and trees in the grounds, some areas would not have been available for the show due to safety and health reasons. In spite of the major challenges, we were willing to offer Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19 as the proposed dates.
“This afternoon we learned that the organizers have decided to cancel the event.”
Surely a collective will could see this event happen? What else are the Botanical Gardens being used for on those dates? Can they be used on an alternative date?
I have to agree with you, and add that as far as I can see this government is hell bent on crippling anything that involves the majority as a people, and they are more about their own agenda and the agenda of the minority.
So what they sow today will eventually come back around full circle and they shall reap tomorrow, and their reaping season will not be a good one for the O.B.A, stick around just a little while longer and pay day always comes and the piper always gets paid.
Good warning for a lot of people in Bermuda I’d say Duane P.
Now we have AG GATE! I’m not surprised in the OBA keep sinking the boat.
Please.
I know you’re good at it, but please don’t twist my words. Right now, we do not know the reason why the Gardens could not be used. I suspect there is very good reason, and if there is, I would expect an apology from you.
My point, and I shall try to make it a little clearer for the hard-of-understanding, is that if enough people with the will to make it happen join forces, then it will happen. It might be on a different date, it may be at a different location, it may follow a different form to previous years, but it could still happen.
It just needs people like Mr Santucci to start pulling in the same direction for the good of Bermuda.
Buildings needing repairs trees down fromgonsalo stated by Mr Cannonier
So if that’s the case there would have been no Ag Show under the govt. But it was going forward until the budget. So that is a poor excuse.
This is not the truth!
OBA government is doing what it can to attack the deficit while keeping Bermudians first.
And sometimes that could mean making the tough decisions.
This government is trash and will never get back in power. Lost my vote and my childrens!! It their way or no way. They don’t care how Bermudians feel!!
The tough decision being to not let a group of people volunteer to put on the ag show for free. With the only cost being that they open the gates for us.
I agree it is a tough call, however I can see many reasons as to why there has been this cancellation. While the event may have been being organized by a private group, it would inevitably pulled in public works… Firstly to finish getting the grounds together for the event, and to do this there are still works to be completed to ready the gardens. With a ban on overtime, this makes the works increasingly difficult. Next, there are huge liability issues, with only government responsible for this coverage in the past, involving a second part adds a layer of complication into negotiations as to who is liable for what incidents and when. Further, no matter who holds the event, as it is on public grounds, public works will be required for involvement, this becomes logistically difficult as mentioned before there is a ban on OT, and OT has always been required for the Ag Show. Additionally, there would be the clean up and rehabilitation to the grounds that would be required, again, normally not that much of an issue with some OT involved, and again, not really an option this year for public works. There is no getting around it, there is complicatingly more cost to this than ‘the only cost being that they open the gates for us.’
I am saddened I will not be able to take my children to the Ag Show this year and hope that this is a one off as we all know there are ways that this can be avoided next year. I commend the dedication of those who tried to pull it off, and hope that maybe they might still do so, even if it is delayed. Thank you all, including the ministry of public works
Opening the gates is not the only cost. The labour required by Parks Dept staff to get the gardens ready, which requires overtime during a regular year let alone the spring after significant hurricanes less than 6 months previous, contributes much of the cost involved in putting on the Exhibition. And the need to save this money was one of the reasons the show was cancelled for this year. The liability associated with having large numbers of people in the gardens if they are not ready or having volunteers from landscaping firms do the work instead cannot be ignored. Why not accept the offer of two weekend days, allowing an extra two days of prep time? Couldn’t make enough money on two days worth of gate receipts rather than three?
Well then by your argument the overtime has already been done and it should be ready??????????
If the Gardens were being properly maintained, hurricanes aside, there wouldnt be a need for the overtime. That aside. This AG Show was not going to be thrown together and ammount to much in a month ad a bit. WHy not try to sort something out for later in the year, like in October.
How do you know they have lost your childrens?
You tell your children how to vote do you? They can’t think for themselves & make their own decision?
Well, if you think the PLP are better and that your children have a future with them at the helm you are sadly mistaken.
PLP or OBA – both may be proven to be bad for Bermuda in a good many peoples view.
Huh? This is just drivel.
“, and add that as far as I can see this government is hell bent on crippling anything that involves the majority as a people,”
Are you suggesting they were elected by a minority? It seems to me that you’re revealing yourself as a rather stupid person.
The Ag Show is just the start – after this it will be the 24th May Parade,and everything else the Govt.can get it hands on — or off !
Alternative dates where given. The Saturday and Sunday
What is so wrong about having the Ag show on the weekend because school is in.
Isn’t Saturday the busiest day of the Ag show anyway
Any idea how long it takes the charities to take down their stalls. They normally do that on the Sunday because most of those people also have other jobs on Monday . The volunteers were keeping it the same as before except we were not going to cost the government
If the show finished on the Sunday at 5/6pm how on earth was it to be cleaned and cleared by Monday 10am.
The only somewhat valid reason that I can think of that would stop it is the sad and dangerous state of the Botanical Grass (can’t call it gardens). Take a drive there and look up in the trees and you might be surprised at how many large branches are hung up in them…waiting to fall. Five or six months after the hurricanes and nobody has used or rented one of those high lifts to safely remove them. Two days work max. There are still lots or trees down are roots sticking up on the grounds. On the hills (near Camden) there are still holes and cut roots sticking out of the grounds from where the Cedar Trees fell and were cut. Nobody has bothered to cut them or rip them out of the ground before a child rolling or running down the hill gets impaled by one. The zen gardens and paths are weed filled, and signs and posts still broken. Then there is the construction site that has a cliff surrounding it and STILL no fence. If it was my house, planning would be all over it. I
up until 3 weeks ago it was still booked – and they are still offering Sat/Sun – so they need Thurs Frid to clean it up?? Why not before?? If it only takes two days………
1) Botanical Gardens was booked for this period already
2) They say they can offer Sat and Sun – argument is it needs tidying up -if they can get it ready for those two days, why not Thurs/Friday???????
Botanicals Gardens a mess from 2 hurricanes. THIS WAS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR EVEN IF GOVT HAD THE MONEY, REMEMBER FABIAN!
A bunch of Pathetic, Incompetent excuse for Politicians.
Why don’t the people of Bermuda, who want the exhibition to go on, volunteer their time to clean up the gardens, and clean up after the show?
and stand up for liability of damage to peoples, buildings and gardens. Can’t expect workers to do Overtime…
Maybe the unions put their foot through the door and said no.
Looks like the Gov’t do NOT have the $$$ for this event – as there are more important situations to take care of first!! First time I have seen the show cancelled in over 60 yrs!!
The BDA financial situation must be a big mess!! Tks to the PLP and their 2+ BILLION $$ deficit they left behind fo an Island with ONLY 63,000 inhabitants!!!
WHERE DID ALL THAT $$$ GO??? THAT IS THE $64,000 QUESTION??
I wonder what the reason is? It seems an illogical decision for the Government, resulting only in bad PR. Very odd…
Described like that, it sounds like Fahy made the decision.
These Dreamers are proving themselves on a daily basis.
Pathetic and embarrassing.
Agree, lets see how the remainder of the OBA supporters spin this one.. OBA already put the blame on the unions, then a group comes in to host the event and then Government states that the venue is being used… Maybe just, just maybe the OBA supporters will see that their party is not without fault like they will have us to believe.. lol..
Pretty sure it was down to the grounds being public and hence not able to sell entry tickets…
They always sold entry tickets before.
Doubt it, entry fees get charged every year to go through the gates.
Their was going to be an entry fee which would hv covered expenses. Then what was left was going to go to charity
Parks department staff have already said that it wouldn’t take place due to the conditions of the grounds as a result of the most recent hurricanes last year and subsequent weather conditions..There is nothing stopping schools from participating in having a day or two where people can visit various schools and what the children can exhibit from our life in Bermuda and how we contribute.
Jeff Sousa’s people could clean the place up in a snap of the fingers, he has a landscaping business and trucks. Get it cleaned up Jeff, let the show go on!
Who is going to repair the buildings then?
“Jeff Sousa’s people could clean the place up in a snap of the fingers, he has a landscaping business and trucks. Get it cleaned up Jeff, let the show go on!”
yes Jeff, you should clean it up ’cause you got trucks and stuff, so we lot can have a good time.
So when you want real work done, you look around for nonunion workers. Got it.
There have been shows on since the Hurricanes and if it was a safety issue the place would be closed. Jeff is a volunteer in the group, not his company
I am not trying to cast negative light on Jeff I am just saying he has the resources and his Company is well equipt to have the grounds in tip top shape for the event if that is the issue behind not allowing the use of the grounds.
Why doesn’t the parks department employees volunteer their time? they have the trucks and people needed to do the work.
Alternative dates where given – government could not commit to the week day usgae
Yes but if you can do Sat and Sound (can I add non week workdays) what is the big problem with Thurs Frid – if it is ready for Sat Sound, why not Thurs Frid – when are the break down crews who also work during the week and who are unpaid volunteers for their Charity or Cause supposed to do their breakdown??
That is ridiculous, then Government shoudl give alternative dates. I bet noting is going on on those dates they just don’t want it, that’s the bottom line
Why would government not want a community event
That is just silly
Here we have a perfect example of “putting the cart before the horse”. The group should’ve had those date confirmed before stating the Ag. Show would be held on such and such a day/s…SSDD
Those dates were actually set last year.
Before the government decided to stick it to everyone.
The government wasn’t putting it on this year a private entity was
If the government would have put it on maybe they would have used their resources to fix the grounds
Instead the government are fixing collapsing walls and bad streets
The group put the cart before the horse for sure
The govt was putting it on this year. It wasn’t till the budget was made for this year that it was dropped. Ag catalogues were already out in circulation
Yet Government still has enough money to conitue construction on the large maintenace yard right in the middle of the Botanical Gardens. When did the ownership of the Botanical Gardens switch from the people of Bermuda to the civil servants in the Parks dept to do withn as they wish? Did we all miss a major announcement?
Note you said that the Govt. wasn’t putting it on — thats the whole reason why there is so much real
mystery around the whole thing.– the dates were set already — ????????
They claim the days were taken — by who?? who would have an event so important that it would cost the cencellation of one of the biggest events in Bermuda.— something is not adding up!
Pehapes the Loan Officers who we got the $800 MILLION from is having a Lawn Party with the top boys of the OBA.— A Looooooooooooot of speculation!
Mr. Ray:
Again, you are incorrect. The dates of the Ag Show were scheduled originally by Govt, with the dates being shared in the public calendar for schools, etc. The group decided that it would be best to keep those dates to ensure everyone would be able to attend.
If so, then wouldn’t one expect the “group” who’ll be hosting the Ag.Show to get them dates confirmed first before releasing any dates at all to the public?
lol,
you are a clown
Not a clown,, just an OBA supporter with Rose Tinted glasses
We all have an opinions…At least I can / do sign my birth given name; not like some others hiding behind pseudonym
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
“Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it’s the only one you have.” -Emile Chartier, philosopher (3 Mar 1868-1951)
Govt new from day one the intention of the group. Those points could hv been brought up on day one
Maybe they were.
Schools confirmed they are staying open because it was not a government event
So please tell me how everyone could attend?
Everyone could have attended Saturday and Sunday
What do schools being open or closed have to do with the show anyway?
In addition to storm closings the public schools lost a week while the teachers pranced around Town. No wonder the private schools do better. They put in the time.
Friday school closing is a relatively new thing in the history of the Ag Show.
Nope, not buying the school excuse here.
BTW schools have been closing for at least 40 years on the Friday of the AG Show so it def is not a new thing
No! Schools were remaining open due to days misses from the Hurricanes and the strikes by the CS including our bus driver!
If you read the article it says that they received initial, in-principle approval. Which is basically a verbal confirmation.
Hey Raymond, I guess Jeff didn’t keep you informed.
Raymond Ray, did you read this sentence from the press release:
“We are obviously extremely
disappointed by Government’s decision not to allow us to use the public Gardens for our planned three-day show. Especially after receiving initial, in-principle approval.”
Re-read the very last sentence…the very last 5 words in particular.

I quote a portion of statement.
Minister Cannonier.
“Additionally, despite our effort to repair the damaged buildings and trees in the grounds, some areas would not have been available for the show due to safety and health reasons. In spite of the major challenges, we were willing to offer Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19 as the proposed dates.
“This afternoon we learned that the organizers have decided to cancel the event.”
After Jet Gate how are we supposed to listen to this guy.
PATHETIC AND EMBARRASSING.
Now suppose, just suppose if this would’ve been ahhh lets say a Dr. Brown on a rebound from an embarrassing resignation, the S!@# we would be reading from the O.B.A/ubp diehards.
Two Bermudas ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
This guy has zero credibility in my book. Look at the ZBM news clip from last year when he was the premier and was interviewed from the AG show stating how great the event was. He even in al his intelligence stated “Enjoy, go ride a horse or something”. I think he needs to ride a horse right out of politics. cheesh
CC came into this after the fact.
Did you offer to assist with this? If not, be quiet! You have no idea what you’re talking about!!!
Why so many dislikes to R. Ray’s comment? This was a classic example of the cart before the horse. The moment I heard of today’s announcement the first thought that came to mind was how could they have guaranteed the show would go on if they knew they had not yet received official confirmation from government? All these silly comments about the OBA and their agenda…forget that. The fact is, government has to make tough decisions and this is one of them. Let’s discuss the real issues BDA!
I thank you whomever you maybe “realist”…Though, as I’ve mentioned on numerous occasions I would prefer them using pseudonym to sign their birth given name/s for this simple reason, “that they do believe in what it is they’re defending.”
Wow. Talk about spiteful. Who booked the gardens for those days?!?
Probably the Unions lol.
What’s going on at the Botanical Gardens? Another union meeting?
leave the unions out of this,,
It appalls me that Government would not let this takes place in the Botanical Gardens – why couldn’t they use Spicelands/Northlands School for example example
The fact is this so called charity sought to get the benefits without being responsible for the burden. They were not willing to staff the event nor pay for the clean up. They wanted that to be the responsibility of the Government. There would have been far more stink had there been a PLP Government in power. Who made up the secret committee? Look at the clear bias of that and you will see who this would have benefited. The Ag Show does not belong to a segment of Bermuda but all of it. Despite what AM thinks.
There is no SECRET COMMITTEE!!! It’s been public since day one!!! Stop creating these false scenarios, people!!!
Your nuts. There were companies out the giving their staff paid days off to volunteer their help. The help isn’t the issue. Get your facts
forget foreigners, we Bermudians are our own worst enemies.
My kids and myelf are disapointed of goverments selfish decision OBA sucks cant wait for the next election because I made a big mistake voting them in
that a person would vote for another party because of the cancellation of the AG show, wow…i just hit the *ignore* button.
Seriously. It was the PLP that bankrupted the country.
Now the OBA can’t stop scoring own-goals.
I wonder who got the Lions share of that money that resulted in debt? certainly not people that look like most members of Plp… The money was spent and largely went to assist the members of the public most in need i.e( school children, seniors,voters who are taxpayers and also employed in government, some on temporary basis, … the money is not just suspended in mid air somewhere, the benefits of that money spent during that time benefitted the Bermudians, however the global economy played a huge part in all economies collapsing around the world so we were not able to recup as the world wide economic trend is a continuall fall as wars, talks and negotiations around the world take place that just happen to affect us here in the island also.. No matter what the Plp did they could not have seen what was to come and take back what was already done, as the present finance minister is finding out the debt is perpetual, just like all other countries around the world , we are operating also in a debt enviroment and it was only a matter of time before the money well ran dry here, .. the people responsible(alligarchy) decide inflation rates, legislation, and other stock market trends.. Blaming the plp doesn’t help right now, oba stepped in shoes that they thought were slippers,.. no its not easy making decisions during these times, we were warned years ago by former Plp Mp Dale Butler that we should do more with less and hone skills, etc.The bells continued to ring also until 2012 even though government continued to spend.
Could not have foreseen that spending way more money than you have would ever cause a problem?
I understand why someone would consider changing their vote in the next election as this manuever is just another component of a much bigger scheme……I mean problem.
Yes the problem that the PLP burdened you and me and all of Bermuda with. We don’t have the money, We owe money.
You also made a big mistake not learning how to spell, to be fair.
Dnt act like ppl don’t constantly make mistakes when typing comments..it’s actually quite common. Your comment was just silly and pointless!
Ya this is one mistake you and your children will regret for the rest of your life and their’s, now with this pro-foreign policy they’re gonna pass.
And to add to the list off all the other Gates, we now have Exhibition Gate.
Your kids could have attended on the Saturday
I hope you were not one of the people boycotting it when it was thought the event was on but through privatisation
So you don’t care about the economy, then?
If the PLP were to be elected, I’d give it 6 months before all IB implement their contingency plans and move shop to Cayman or Jersey.
This is nothing more than civil servants being vindictive and setting up the OBA
A group, spearheaded by Jeff Sousa, launched an initiative to put on the event, and last month Mr. Sousa said the event would be taking place on April 16th, 17th and 18th, with the “community driven effort put on for the community.”
I don’t understand why Mr. Sousa and the rest of the group would announce such dates if they had not yet been confirmed by the government?
Don’t blame Sousa and the group. They were using the dates that the government had originally scheduled the Ag show for. The government was wrong for releasing the dates.
The government cancelled the ag show!
Oh please…how long ago were the dates released?!! The fact is, as I’ve said before, government has no choice but to make tough decisions and this was one of them. They have not said that this is permanent, hopefully it’s a one off thing but obviously we’ll have to wait and see. All this fuss about the AG show, I have to ask…would we prefer the govt make the ultimate tough decision of downsizing the civil service? What would we be talking about them? Personally I feel that this is what the govt needs to do. However, as they have not yet done so, I do applaud their efforts in trying to come up with other alternatives which so far has meant that no govt employee has lost their job. Shouldn’t the civil servants feel grateful about this? If they are grateful then why so many comments about the temporary cancellation of this event?
Many have lost their jobs!!!
They were initially confirmed by the government as stated in the article above. Then the government decided to not allow it for unknown reasons.
in principle. Not officially. Civil Service don’t move that fast to produce leagl agreements for this group, this group don’t move fast enough to sort out the liability issues…is more likely what happened.
Its nothing for our children to do as it is this lame boring island that why our children are getting into trouble there nothing here no water parks or nothing fun to do
Maybe sign your child up for sailing? Let him play football, go explore different spots on the island instead of staying inside all day on iPads, laptops etc. Go teach your children to play, there are many activities for children to take part in on the island, motivate them as a parent to do so.
Have you any idea how much sailing costs!!!
There is no way to afford such luxuries. You do realize government got rid of their old sailing school? Private clubs run very expensive courses and camps.
You sure it’s not your crappy parenting?
Why would you say that to someone you do not know? That was horrible.
Are you actually going to stand by your comment? Do you know how ridiculous you sound? Blame Govt for your children’s boredom??
Wow. There’s plenty to do you just have to go out and try it.
Get the iPods and iPads out of your children’s hands and take them outside.
If the AG Show had always been every other year we wouldnt be hearing the pathetic whinning.
SMDH
Give them a book to read; go for a walk along the Railway Trail; collect shells on the beach; run around outside…
Oh mercy…whatever did we do before we expected everything to be handed to us on a platter????
Here we go blaming the government for our own parenting failures. This thing about there’s nothing for the kids to do has existed for years before this government was voted in. If we are really concerned about our kids we as parents will make it a point to find things for them to do rather than taking the easy route of taking our kids to staged events and buying them candy and popcorn. Take your kids fishing or for a walk on the trails to pick loquats. If they’re older kids than start teaching them life skills that will enable them to become productive citizens within our community. Come on people, stop using the government and every other entity as a scape goat for our lack of accountability. Raise your own damn kids, dnt expect the government or the teachers or anyone else to do your job.
This is sad. Someone just don’t what this event to happen. How can you have an annual event that happens every year and someone else books the location? Hmmm
PLP is gonna have a field day with this.
I hope there is a very simple and acceptable explanation for this. I just don’t think we can handle another drama that is going to be distorted and spun to the high heavens.
What other explanation do we need other than the one that was given? We need to cut spending and the AG show costs $400k to put on each year. I’m sure the $400k could be more useful elsewhere. I mean, we’re acting like this was a life or death decision and the govt chose death. I have to say, I can’t help but think that the majority of these comments are coming from the ppl who have directly benefited from the tremendous amount of OT monies they’ve previously received by working this event. If I’m correct, than this is clearly a showing of pure selfishness. The same selfishness that has helped land this country in this current financial crisis.
realist – This event is attended by tens of thousands of people and you think the only people that are mad are a few Ag and Fish workers who previously got overtime. Are you really so shallow to believe that.
Not only is the Ag. Show one of the most informative Bermudian history lessons that we can be a part of, but is also a major fund raising event for many of Bermuda’s charities that offer goods on that weekend. Cancelling the Ag. show will severely hurt and even cripple some of the charities involved, and one can see clearly that the OBA has not a care in the world for Bermuda and her People.
More to this than meets the eye.
This is total bulls***
Okay Terry,, please tell us how the reason is because of the PLP and the unions etc.. you know the normal crap that come out of your fingers.
Do you speak English as a first language?
sometimes.
So what is the reason given that the Show will not be able to be held at BG? It doesnt appear a clear plausible explaination has been given to us and we deserve that at the very least!
For crumbs sakes…it costs $400k to host and the money is more useful elsewhere!
So you think they are using this money elsewhere hey? where do you think they will be using it? Foolish!!!
I am smelling a rat here & it is not coming from OBA HQ.
Precisely WHO made the decision to block the use of the grounds? Why? What are the grounds going to be used for that week? I’ll bet absolutely nothing.
I’m betting the excuse is going to be along the lines of “Oh well, the grounds are still not ready because of the storms 4 months ago.”
BS!!!!!
Wait for it. This decision has come from the people at Ag & Fish. Who are they? Some heads should roll.
Hmm.. I see how you are trying to spin it. If the grounds were unable to be used, and that’s the real reason that the AG show was cancelled, as I suspect they were, why did the OBA blame the unions?
You can’t recreate nature. If it’s unsafe, it’s unsafe.
The parks dept is the biggest joke and worst run dept in all of Government. Am i even remotely surprised by this, no! This deptartment has long been in need of capable leadership. Time for a new director of Parks
new Camden tenant….?
Oh of course it just could not come from your beloved OBA now could it.. 2017 cannot come fast enough!
this is some good s..t
This idiot cant stop himself.
lol
I do think I know where you’re going with your theory TD but I doubt that it’ll be picked up on by any or many . So far it hasn’t.
He/She heard this.. No credit to them.
It’s dee Park Pleece Triangle……
Dee Pleeze Leeve de Park ciwil sewants………
If CC can “offer” other dates, then the CC must be the one who decided that the proposed dates are not available.
Can someone please explain what Gov’t position is on why the Gardens could not be made available on the days requested April 16,17,18.
this should be fun
I really want to thank MP Jeff Sousa and all the people who worked so hard to try and bring this together. We know you all did your very best and are grateful for your commitment.
It didn’t work out, and the community is left wondering why? With all the good that this event serves to do, who and what could have put the spokes in the wheel on this one.
Sorry, this just seems political. It’s very disappointing that not everyone is working for Bermuda and it’s people!
I am told by a cabinet member that Jeff had been warned that this was never going to be easy for a third party. There are all sorts of issues that had to be dealt with in a very short period of time and the feeling was that it would not be realistic to proceed without resolving those matters first.
Liability, responsibility for doing all the various things that need doing, staffing etc…..none of this had been sorted out…although Jeff (with excellent intent) bulled ahead. I think this was a disaster waiting to happen…and we cannot afford another disaster.
I’d say don’t give up the ghost Jeff…go for a date in the Fall.This is no ones fault..just too little time to do too much important stuff.
ok but what about the monies Government already spent on the Ag Show this year that just gets disregarded? It is a waste of OUR money! So how much did they just flush down the toilets? Considering the programmes were printed and sent outsome time back (2 to my house alone)
-printing isnt free
-the event manager didnt even check to see if there were duplications in addresses before sending
-postage fees were paid to send the programmes
-I would bet the ribbons have all been ordered and paid for
PLEASE tell us how much of our money did you throw away on this event for it to become a non-event? It would have made more sense to cancel next years show and proceed this year?
I’m listening……………….
So what you’re saying is that you would have preferred the govt continue on with the show this year and continue to spend money it doesn’t have. Yes, there was probably a financial loss due to whatever monies were already spent but I dnt agree that they should have continued on knowing that it would only create further financial issues going into next year. Perhaps the biggest issue is the timing of the first announcement to cancel the show. They should probably have announced it sooner but let’s be real..had they done so we would have been having this debate for that much longer and frankly I’ve had enough of this discussion. Govt made a decision, end of discussion. Move on folks, this was not a life threatening decision.
So we can privatize everything else but not the Exhibition. Methinks the OBA did not want Mr. Sousa to get credit for pulling this off. Maybe if it were one of their cronies who wanted to do the show, there would be no issue.
Jeff? What happened? I’m baffled ;-(
I am not sure why we are blaming government, wasn’t this a collective decisions brought forward by the union and the govt?
Please explain how the union got involved in this one? Baffled, unless you know something we dont.
Jeff Sousa – you are a major social media guy. Time to tell people why this cannot happen. Lets be fair and transparent…there are 2 sides to this story and you know it – and you’ve known for a long time !
There are reasons that teh Government is not being vocal;…you are putting your own people in a bad (and unfair) light
Politics at its best.
As I go through the Botanical Gardens frequently I think I can guess why they will not be available for the action group to have the Ag Show mid April – the grounds are an absolute disgrace, and don’t tell me because it was due to the hurricanes in October, they were a disgrace long before then and are worse now. Weeds in the flower beds and I mean every flower bed, grass not mowed regularly plus trees still down from the hurricanes and the monstrosity of a construction site and enormous water tank front and centre and with no overtime available the workers are going to have actually work during working hours to get it ready. That’s why the grounds will not be available mid April.
Unbelievable….Taking our heritage away from us. Our kids and grandkids too. Next it’ll be Cup Match and Bermuda Day I suppose.
Oh boo hoo , you miss one Ag show , boo hoo . Why do we have no money again ? suck it up.
We have no money because every chance they get, the OBA is trying to give it to some rich foriegners.
Silly. I’m pretty sure that it will be a cold day in …. before Cup Match is cancelled. Surely we all have some idea of the huge amount of money the classic generates for this economy. Now if this were to happen than that would be something to fuss about. We really need to stop whining about this temporary decision. Our kids will be fine folks.
How do I explain to my kids whom have already signed their forms (and made items in the past) to make something for the exhibition, that they can not do it because the same goverment that is threatnening to consolidate their institution can not afford it. What they could have done was allowed the schools to have their own internal exhibitions and parents and teachers could admire the students work…im just saying.
It will be a good life lesson for them: you can’t spend money you don’t have.
Did they spend money “they didnt have” on the America’s Cup bid!
Hmmmm. America’s Cup or Ag Show which would you prefer to benefit Bermuda. I’LL WAIT
Lets be real! Obviously the America’s Cup is benefiting people like “you” not the average joe like “me” Only time will tell how much of an impact it will have on this economy.
First of all bra um more like you than you think BUT I CAN SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE! Why you limit ya self is beyond me but as far as um concerned if there’s money to be made I WILL EXHAUST MY RESOURCES and CHANNELS for a piece of dat pie. You already wrote yourself off, I can tell even by ya comment.
YOU DON’T KNOW WHO I AM…who said um not average like you?! Just sore loser and a dummy…smh
“Lets be real! Obviously the America’s Cup is benefiting people like “you” not the average joe like “me” Only time will tell how much of an impact it will have on this economy.”
yet another idiot with no clue how the economy works.
Stop waiting for a hand-out and start thinking of how you can take advantage of everything the AC will bring to the island. Start your own business!
They probably did but let’s not overlook the potential financial gains. It’s a little thing called an investment.
Only time will tell. I hope you all are not biting your tongues when its all over and we see how their investments pan out!
Lol
What do you mean how are you going to explain it? Just tell them the truth, govt needs to find ways to reduce spending and this was one of the ways. Be real people, our kids will get over it just as kids tend to do. This would be the perfect time to show our kids how we can’t always get what we want in life. And what’s stopping the schools and parents from allowing time to showcase their students’ talents. After all, there was a huge amount of support for Jeff Sousa and co. So why not channel those efforts in a way that the schools can host their own showcases. If we were really worried about how this affects the kids we could make this happen.
If you cannot see that the $400,000 needed to fund the biggest social event on the Bermuda calendar is easily value for money, you are totally blind. Since the oba has been in power they have given millions of dollars to foreign consultants – for what nobody knows. Take a few of your buddies off of the payroll and we can start to save some money.
Now before you get started with “but the PLP….” think about it. If the PLP according to you wasted money on consultants, why on you support the oba doing the same and worse?
Did the PLP try to help?
Is the OBA (who happen to be in power) trying to help?
THIS WAS A CIVIL SERVICE DECISION AND NOT AN OBA DECISION
You can bet your booties on that one.
The Ag & Fish staff, from the top to the bottom, don’t want the public to see what a mess the park is in from the storms or the general neglect it has suffered for a long long time.
A few years ago I visited Lake Guntersville State Park, Alabama. On arrival it was quite obvious that this campground had been hit not long ago by a serious storm. Standing trees with branches missing. Evidence of recent chainsaw use with dust everywhere, fresh dirt where stumps had been but the place was open & fully functioning. It had been trashed by a F4 tornado only a month before. Too bad we don’t have the motivated people here that Guntersville has.
Who remembers going there when the gardens were gardens? Everything was weeded. Even the buildings had a fresh coat of paint. The staff had pride in what they did. Ag & Fish used to be one of the very few well run departments. What happened?
Triangle drifter, You keep blethering on about “Ag and Fish”
There is NO SUCH THING.
Agriculture ,Fisheries and Parks became Parks, Enviromental Protection, and Conservation Services.
Yeah right. Like anyone in the Civil Service has the power to tell the government what they can or can not do. Any decision they make can easily be overturned by the Minister in charge. If the government really wanted this to happen they would have. Stop trying to defend the OBA and shift the blame.
Ohh , I get it ..Since December 2012 any unpopular decisions by the government has to be approved by the Civil Sevice ?
The Civil Service does the day to day running of Government.
If the senior civil servants at Ag & Fish say it can’t be done, then it can’t be done. It does not matter that it can’t be done if due to CS ineptness at getting the grounds cleared up in 5 months. The grounds won’t be ready. Thats it. Blame the people who have been dragging their feet since October.
Don’t blame the politicians. Blame the politicians if they don’t use this as a good reason to privatise the maintenance of the grounds, which were a disgrace even before the storms hit.
Wow TD, that was a pathetic attempt to divert blame from your precious OBA. We know that they can do wrong in your eyes. Any wrong decisions, let’s blame it on the civil service. So pathetic.
You need to stalk me more closely. If you did you would know that there have been plenty of times that I have criticised or questioned the OBA on an issue.
So in other words , ‘ the tail is allowed to wag the dog ?’
If the tail is broken, it won’t wag, no matter how badly the dog wants it to.
That is the way it works in the Civil Service. That is the way it has been for decades. That is what the OBA is trying to change after the PLP promised to do it in throne speach after throne speach but only made the problem many times worse.
The various department Directors & Permanent Secretarys don’t want to see their empires cut back.
drifter, you talk a lot of smack, when the PLP was in power you blamed them for everything that went wrong. You even blamed the worldwide recession on them.
At the direction of the union, it looks like.
The unions are showing how little we need their members. If they don’t want to work, and things carry on without a problem, then we never needed them in the first place.
In this case we would do better without them obstructing things.
The memo came directly from the director of parks. Union issues.
i keep hearing that the grounds are unsuitable, so is botanical gardens closed to the public since the hurricane..? is there trees laying in the show ring?…have the stables n livestock pens been destroyed?…are the slat houses in disrepair..?? I think someone realized how much Mr.J.Sousa n his group would have pulled in at the gate fee and vendors fees…i’m not too sure if there is an entry fee for exhibits…if it was a charitable event then even St.Johns would have donated their services…even though we wouldn’t need an ambulance, the hospital is right there, all we need is a wheelbarrow to zip u to the emergency…we don’t need 600 police either…learn to park in a manner which you should have become accustomed to over the years,..show others that you as a Bermudian are NOT dumb as we are called…and if you thought you were gonna start trouble then street justice would definitely prevail, because it would be the Peoples day Bermuda as a FAMILY again,not a govt regulated function. You have become too dependent on the Govt.to do everything for you…as stated before i don’t want to live in a NANNY STATE…Just DO IT.
Listen people you asked for cuts you got it and The AG Show cost more then 400000 also the cut also cut staff the same thing you keep crying for so you got some of what you want. This is all political crap move on will you
Many of you just did not even read the statements. At all. You just conjured up a whole bunch of conspiracies.
Craig Cannonier is so full of bull.
“Additionally, despite our effort to repair the damaged buildings and trees in the grounds, some areas would not have been available for the show due to safety and health reasons. In spite of the major challenges, we were willing to offer Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19 as the proposed dates.”
So health and safety reasons about “damaged buildings and trees” rule out Thursday and Friday, but Saturday and Sunday are fine?
It sounds more like Parks employees are being difficult about moving their equipment for Thursday and Friday and threatened the possibility of an “accident” involving the public.
Yes, sounds like the folk who made it too costly to run due to their demands for overtime, having failed in their jobs to properly maintain the gardens for their proper purpose do not wish to be exposed and are being obstructive. They should have volunteered to run it free of charge. Failures. Shameful. No pride in Bermuda. What happened to all the “Hurricane spirit”?
It’s got nothing to do with maintenance. The Parks verkers are being as difficult as they can to prevent this event by refusing to store their equipment offsite for Thursday and Friday. And the union is supporting them.
Clearly its time to privatize the Parks dept. Break the jobs down and put them out to tender. There are lots of landscapers who could do this work faster, cheaper and better.
Just signs of a falling Bermuda – neither the OBA or the PLP could bring it back. — were done but
we just don’t want to accept it.
…. In other words , a wasted exercise ! But I wonder what the government is saving the AG SHOW money for ? Will it ( the money ) be used to buy a buoy for Dockyard ?
Nope, it will be used to pay finance charges on the debt your beloved PLP ran up.
The question you might ask is, where did that $400,000 go to become part of the PLP debt? Maybe it is part of that mystery missing $800,000,000.
No Coffee, it will be given to a bunch of bus drivers so they can sit at home and pretend they’re “sick”.
Shameful. This was the best event I have come across in Bermuda and was a total suprise. A proper, big event attended by families across the whole of society. It is a massive failure on the part of government, possibly unions, the department responsible for the badly maintained Gardens. They have failed all our children. They have failed charities, the agricultural community etc. they have failed Bermuda. The saying “couldn’t organise a p*** up in a brewery” comes to mind. Shame on you all. Well done for trying to save this. A sad day for Bermuda.
All I know is that there will be a lot of disappointed kids this year…so sad.
They won’t care if we parents simply find a suitable distraction. Actually, they’ll get over it fairly quickly whether we come up with a distraction or not. Lets be real, the younger kids will not grow up traumatized by this decision and the older kids only go to the event to showcase their new outfits and what not and they simply would prefer it to be on so that they have one more day out of school. Don’t get me wrong, there are some kids that will be disappointed but I’m inclined to believe they are the minority and will ultimately survive this decision
Another hit to the already fragile social condition of this island. They are cutting back on all the wrong thing’s. Thing’s that effect the country and it’s citizen’s. Again they are failing to invest in the people instead they are investing in a boat race. This little island is slowly eroding and falling apar.:-(
Another hit to the already fragile social condition of this island. They are cutting back on all the wrong thing’s. Thing’s that effect the country and it’s citizen’s. Again they are failing to invest in the people instead they are investing in a boat race. This little island is slowly eroding and falling apart.:-(
Life has disappointments, kids will get over it. I think the adults are making more of a fuss than the children are, believe me on this. Schools can display their culture during that week, whether it’s animal critters, baked goods, plants, healthy lunch boxes- it does not have to be a total loss. Make lemonade out of lemons people, and get over it.
THIS WAS A CIVIL SERVICE DECISION AND NOT AN OBA DECISION
What I can’t understand is how aren’t the dates available for the AG Show if they have been on the calendar more than certainly since last year this time! It seems some what spiteful and heartless for the Government to turn around and disallow this private group from using the venue on them days and setting alternative days to the Saturday and Sunday. It’s sad that Mr. Cannoneer can turn around and try to justify this saying that areas won’t be ready which means I’m guessing that if the Government were to have went forward the grounds still wouldn’t have been ready. All they are showing the people is that they don’t care about us as the people, children and adults. All they had to do was sign an agreement and allow the private company the right to carry on a 76 year old legacy that in my eyes may be lost like the rest of Bermuda is being lost.
People wake up. It’s not about us or our children. We are not on the agenda. They are making it more and more difficult for us whether directly or indirectly and with their negligence and disregard for the people and private group they have forced the private group to cancel something that was paid for privately and the only event that characterizes the Bermudian!!
I hope next years show is better. Lets not spend this year’s funding for the show, and combine it with next years and make it twice as better.
Nice idea ” Longtail” but I expect us to be in worse financial shape next year unfortantly.
All this boooo hooooo hoooo, the government are not giving me everything, the government are not fixing my kids, that I broke…..booo hoooo…
I doubt there is a more entitled population than Bermuda on this planet. You know what I will do the weekend when there would have been the ag show? Take my kids to the aquarium (cheaper and less junk food than the ag show), take them to a local farm to buy some vegetables, talk with the farmer, take them to the maritime museum for an adventure, take a ride on the railway trail….
Those of us in the seeming minority call it being a parent.
PEACE CONCERT 2015 ?
If a legacy event such as the AG SHOW can be cancelled……..
As of this date, we cannot say if there will be a PEACE CONCERT or not.
We hope we can continue…..
Without sponsorship & / or Government support in terms of use of the Botanical Gardens Show Ring we will most likely have to rethink the whole concept of the Bermuda Peace Weekend of events.
If anyone is interested in helping us to sponsor the Lennon Bermuda Peace Weekend of Events in 2015 please contact ridethewavebermuda@gmail.com
U think if the govt said they are canceling Bermuda day. It would be 153 comments under the article???? ijs. Think about it ppl
May 24th is the official first day of summer. Don’t mess with that. What are you implying?
so – once again I have to shake my head to try to understand this – simple points
1. the Government agreed to the Ag show going on “in principle” thus damaged buildings etc WERE NOT an issue
2. The Government has offered alternative dates for the Ag Show – thus damaged buildings etc WERE NOT an issue
3. Assuming (despite the above) the buildings really are an issue are you telling me that with an overstaffed civil service you cant repair a building 3-4 months after its damaged? If the buildings are so damaged that its dangerous to have people in them then surely letting them sit for months in this weather is only making things worse?
4. One also assumes that the buildings were insured – weren’t they??? If so then why hasn’t this money been spent on getting them repaired.
I am reminded of the classic comment made of someone who is so incompetent that “He couldn’t organize a stag party in a brewery” – seems that this is the case here with our Government – you had better pull it together boys – and soon!!
What have the Ag & Fish people been doing all winter? Any home owner or landscaper knows that grass does not need cutting anywhere near as frequently in winter as the summer months leaving plenty of time for other work like cleaning up & trimming storm damage.
I understand why they have not repaired or painted buildings. It’s not their JAWB.
The maintenance of the Government parks should be put out to tender. Any self respecting landscaping company will do a better job with half the people in half the time.
Yet Government still has enough money to conitue construction on the large maintenace yard right in the middle of the Botanical Gardens. When did the ownership of the Botanical Gardens switch from the people of Bermuda to the civil servants in the Parks dept to do withn as they wish? Did we all miss a major announcement?
Unbeleivable. So when there are unpopular Govt decisions we blame the civil servants. When decisions are popular the individual OBA Govt politicians are to take the credit and not the civil servants (rarely are they thanked for doing a good job). Nice circular ‘logic’. The civil servants were tasked to find cost savings. A bunch of them were submitted, Ag Show included. ALL of them are subject to the final decision by….CABINET (as a reminder this is made up of current Govt Ministers)! Civil servants are damned all around. Smh.
and those savings exist – but someone in the civil service has decided that the “private” Ag show cant happen when those who are paying for it want it – now if I am wrong someone (WHO ACTUALY KNOWS) please tell me – if not then this (it seems) is inexcusable
“That’s not my JAWB!” I’ve heard that saying many times. In times like these you need to do what yah gotta do. Pay attention…if not…YAH GAWN!!