and the business community to make this year's Bermuda Day Parade the biggest and best ever.

And he believes that the themes for this year's parade and heritage month celebrations, which both take place in May, will provide a wide range of participating organisations.

Unveiling a list of events, the Minister explained that the UN International Year of the Older Person has been adopted as the theme for the celebrations.

"The Heritage Advisory Committee has selected the Heritage Month theme `Honouring Our Elders' while the theme for the Bermuda Day Parade is `Bermuda -- The Last One Hundred Years', Mr. Lister said.

"The main purpose of the International Year of the Older Person is to encourage understanding among generations and to foster awareness around the world of the significant role seniors play in our families and in every aspect of our community life.'' Heritage Month will kick off with a month-long exhibition at the Edinburgh Gallery at City Hall. There will also be a golf tournament for seniors hosted by the Bermuda Golf Association, a grand arts festival by the sea and various dance and yachting events.

There will also be a Citizens' Recognition Day when two residents will be honoured for their influence on the community.