Public/Private Partnership For 2016 Ag Show
[Updated with video] The Minister of Public Works Craig Cannonier today [July 22] announced a public/private partnership between Ag Show Limited and the Bermuda Government to hold the 2016 Annual Agricultural Exhibition.
“Today, after months of negotiations, we can sign this Memorandum of Understanding and we can begin to prepare for next year,” said Minister Cannonier at a press conference today.
“This Government is committed to seeing the Ag Show continue, we certainly do not want to see it die.”
“We are confident that we now have enough time to prepare the grounds, repair damaged buildings and plan and execute a successful Ag Show in 2016,” added the Minister.
Also present at today’s announcement and MOU signing were Antwan Albuoy, President of the Executive Committee of the AG Show Ltd., Mr. David Lopes, Chairman of AG Show Ltd., MP Jeff Sousa, lawyer Kim White and Andrea Moniz-DeSouza.
The Chairman of Ag Show Ltd is David Lopes, the President is Antwan Albuoy, the Secretary is Ellen Brown, the Treasurer is Peter Barrett and the Members are Judith Canale, Lisa Raposo Dawson, Andrea Moniz-DeSouza, Kirk Kitson, Nicole Botelho Lindo, Theresa Minors, Trina O’Connor, Talia A. Simmons, Jefferson Sousa, Ian Truran and Kim White.
Slideshow showing some of the exhibits, attendees and events from past Ag Shows
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The Ag Show, which is normally hosted by Government, was cancelled this year 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.
Update 2.15pm: Video of today’s press conference
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Hip..hip..hooray!
now can we go back to calling it the AG Show – another genius decision by the previous Government!
Can you just quit with the dumb comments about the old gov??? They old, get over it………move one just ugh!! You are getting monotonous and boring!!!
Hope that disaster in the middle of the Botanical Gardens called a new maintenance yard has gone by then …. what an eyesore for locals and visitors when they go to the Ag Show!
Actually it was always there before.
How does that makes sense? I don’t remember that ugly water tank ever being there.
That makes no sense. Why are they putting a new maintenance in the middle of the Botanical Gardens? Complete disaster. Shameful if you ask me
Maybe this mean Gov. will not step up and stop that project. One can only hope that they’ve woken up and seen the light that a maintenance depot doesn’t belong there.
Absolutely fantastic!
Without any doubts, “one plus one will always make two.” On behalf of many I want to say thanks to everyone who’d joined hands and “regenerated” this extremely important event As mentioned, there is ample time to renovate the buildings damaged during the previous storms as well as time to have the grounds once again immaculate…or near enough
That’s going to be difficult with no money!
damage has been done, but I guess better late than never….
That makes perfect sense!!
With due respect to all officials, I look forward to the impact of David Lopes as Chairman of the AG show.
Let’s make it a first class experience.
great a for profit event… lol…
Now what is wrong with that? Suppose you would like to hop over the wall for free. You are entitled to get in for free are you not?
You bet they need to make a profit. It takes money to put on events such as this. All of those charity run stalls look forward to earning some coin so that they can do the charitable work that they do at no cost to those they serve.
I suppose you would like to see some special ring entertainment shows. Well they cost money too. The airlines won’t fly them in for free & the shippers won’t ship whatever they need for free either.
Really Rhonda, this is very basic stuff for putting on an event.
As much as you might want it to be for profit Rhonda, it is NOT.
How do you know it will be for profit. The odds are that The Ag Show Ltd will be soliciting sponsorship to cover the costs, as well as ticket and vendor revenues. This has always been the case as th Ag Show has never made a profit for government.
How wonderfull what a good plan.
NOW WHO IS PAYING FOR THIS??? Has some one found a money tree in the Botanical Gardens.
We are still borrowing $220Million per year to live on which adds to our $2.385Billion dollar DEBT.
Goverment is borrowing this money to pay themselves,they certainly are not paying me and i still have to pay my TAXES.
What cannot cotinue will come to a STOP.
Government aren’t paying for this…Listen to the spokesperson. It’s a public / private sponsored event. If not mistaken,the only way Government are involved would be by offering the location.
By the way, there just maybe a fund raiser as well, to assist with the financing…
Sup ‘bluebird’…the taxpayers are being freed up. So no fret. Come to the Ag Show and enjoy. The debt clock won’t be affected at all.
We all smelled this RAT from day one.
I found a money tree over a decade ago but the law says it’s illegal.
How funny but true!!!!!I as well!!!
Wait till they charge you up the pole for lack of a better word, to get in….somebody has to pay….come on….
I would be much much happier if Cannonier wasn’t involved
Govt owns the land, so how the heck can they not be involved???
Congrats to David and Jeff for pushing the AG forward………..
Well this all sounds good maybe Cannonier is smarter than you think he seems to have facilitated a solution. We will see at the next show.
Let me understand Government pulled the funds so that left them no money to even play their public partnership role. We the people want Government to save money therefore if we cut cost why are we still trying to do the same event. The hard decisions need to be made and they are not in a position to do so for political gain. I hear the Person that is a full time worker to plan this same event is still hired, where is that money coming from to pay her why government just did not get rid of them at that time its still costing. Its just too much madness