Bermuda will spend 2004 celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the International Year of the Family.

Such celebrations, however, will not ?wander into the waters? of families with same-sex parents.

Health Minister Patrice Minors, speaking at a press conference yesterday, said throughout the past decade lifestyles have changed but the importance of family has remained constant.

The United Nations declared 1994 the International Year of the Family, and the ten-year anniversary is to be celebrated this year to ?reinforce the importance of families as the basic unit of society, and to highlight the important issues related to families around the world,? Mrs. Minors said.

Moral values have changed, she said, and Bermuda needs to return to the old family moral values.

When asked if families with gay parents were included in the United Nations definition of a family, the Minister replied: ?The focus of this event is not to wander into those waters.

?The Ministry of Health and Family Services and the various agencies within the department... pledge to continue to review current policies and to make recommendations to improve the lot of families,? she said.

The Bermuda Family Council will lead the celebrations this year, including holding a family conference on the International Day of Families, Saturday, May 15 at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI).

Vice president of the American organisation Programmes of Parents Anonymous, Inc. Sandra Williams will speak at the conference, which will run from 8.30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be morning and/or afternoon workshops for families to attend.

?It will be a family day for parents, grandparents, guardians and children to come out and participate in activities that will allow each family member to develop as a productive citizen,? said Mrs. Minors.

?Families will receive nutrition information, money management techniques, job training tips and spiritual guidance, as well as gardening and museum fun for children.? There is a $25 per family conference fee.

?During 2004, I encourage everyone in Bermuda to pay particular attention to the family unit and those issues that threaten to destroy this institution,? the Minister continued.

?In addition, I call on each member of our community, our community organisations, our sports and youth clubs to pledge to combat these negative influences that harm our society.

?The Bermuda Family Council is encouraging groups and organisations in Bermuda to plan their own special event in recognition of this very important UN declaration.?

Mrs. Minors also encouraged families to build family traditions and give children warm memories to pass on to their own children, even things as little as cooking a family dinner and sitting down to eat together.

?The little things can mean a lot as we endeavour to reinforce the importance of families in our little corner of the world.?