A number of guests from across the Caribbean brought to Bermuda to observe and help with the judging at this year?s Bermuda Annual Exhibition have spoken highly of the event, which is expected to attract more than 30,000 visitors over the next three days.

The exhibition draws on the talents of residents, young and old, across the Island with food, vegetables, livestock and art and crafts going on display at the Botanical Gardens from today.

Some of the Caribbean guests have spoken of their wish that the traditions and organisational set-up of the Bermuda event can be copied on their islands.

Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield was particularly pleased representatives from other Caribbean islands were able to share in the event, including some from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, St. Martin and St. Kitts & Nevis.

Jamaica?s National Farm Queen, O-Lydia Cole, sang at the launch of this year?s 68th exhibition and said she was delighted to be visiting the Island for the first time expressing a keen interest in agriculture and the need for providing public education on the subject and how it relates to sustainable development. Young Bermudians have been able to get an understanding of the challenges of conservation on a small island, said Minister Ms Butterfield, by being asked to design a mini-forest model gardens in a small pie pan.

She said this year?s exhibition had received a record number of entrants for the junior art competition with more than 2,500 pictures and drawings.

This year also sees the introduction of a new heritage trail hunt for youngsters to educate them in the Island?s history, as well as football matches to showcase the talents of young soccer players, she said.

?With all this emphasis on our young people, you should be able to understand at least one of the reasons why we have chosen as our theme this year ?Planting Seeds for Tomorrow?,? the Minister added.

Dr. Alfred Benjamin, chief agricultural and veterinary officer in the Cayman Islands, said on previous visits he has taken away good ideas from the show to be used in the Cayman Islands and spoke of his pleasure at the reciprocal nature of the relationship between his country and Bermuda.

Likewise Lillawatti Rastogi, deputy director in the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Agriculture and her husband Dr. Rajendra Rastogi, a senior lecturer in animal studies at the University of the West Indies, spoke highly of their first impressions of the exhibition, which runs until Saturday.

Mrs. Rastogi said: ?We are really impressed that in such a small country there are so many high quality exhibits and we are impressed with the involvement of youth. The healthy eating lunch kits that the children have made is a sure winner - it is fostering the creativity of young people.?

Lisa-Dawn Johnston, Bermuda?s Director of Parks, said a Bermuda delegation that visited Trinidad and Tobago went on a tour of its farms and laboratories and had found it rewarding and had asked its hosts to come to Bermuda to see the Island?s exhibition and act as judges.

The Annual Exhibition is open from today until Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Saturday evening there will be a ?Gospel Explosion? show in the lower ring of the Botanical Gardens.