Government's decision to cancel the Annual Exhibition comes as a huge disappointment.

Most Bermudians look forward to the event in much the same way they do Christmas or Cup Match.

It is true that the damage from Hurricane Fabian to the Botanical Gardens was severe and it is quite clear that the "Ag Show" could not proceed as things stand now.

But a little more effort several months ago could have ensured that the show would go on.

If an appeal to the general public to assist in putting the Botanical Gardens into good enough shape to host the show had been made in November or December, there is no doubt that the public would have demonstrated their "Fabian spirit" and come forward to help to repair the grandstand, repair roofs and so on.

That would have relieved the Parks Department of at least some of its responsibilities when it workers are rightly focused on restoring other parks and beaches in time for tourism's high season.

But Government missed the opportunity to make this a genuine community effort. Instead, there seems to have been a "failure" to communicate.

Having said that, praise is due to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for their plans to expand their fair. That at least will give children something to look forward to.

Also on he bright side, this gives Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield a year to rethink one of the sillier decisions of the last Progressive Labour Party government and to give the Agricultural Exhibition its name back.