A UNIQUE event has been organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs whose aims are highlighting a Warwick landmark, supporting small business and celebrating an island community.

Called the 'We Love Warwick Rubber Tree Festival', it will be held in the grounds of the Warwick Post Office each Saturday in April, beginning tomorrow.

Behind the scheme is Community & Cultural Affairs Minister Dale Butler. The Member of Parliament had observed several successful festivals in his world travels and was certain an event could be adapted to fit the needs of Bermuda.

"At the Commonwealth Games, at the Essence Music Festival ? everywhere I travel people are into festivals," he said. "I thought about it and felt confident a similar thing could work here. I'm sure there's plenty of interest, and figured if we started it slowly, it would grow."

Mr. Butler confided that his enthusiasm for its success was divided: As Community & Cultural Affairs Minister, he thought it a means of bringing the island together and as MP for Warwick North East, he felt it would highlight an important landmark there.

"One of the reasons I decided to do it is because I've noticed so many vendors on the island, many of them selling from sidewalks. I don't know how successful they are in attracting business but I welcome all of them to join us, to present a unified effort.

"Another aim was to place an emphasis on love in the community. We hear so many negative stories but there's so much that's right with Bermuda that goes unmentioned in Bermuda. On the other hand, the world views Bermuda with so much admiration. I spent two weeks in Australia for the Commonwealth Games.

"While I was there, Australia's Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, asked to meet with me. Out of all the representatives he could have chosen, he asked to meet with only two ministers ? myself and the Minister of Tourism & Sports for St. Kitts and Nevis. Bermuda was at the top because of all the good he had heard about us."

An equally important aim of the event is to clear the area surrounding the rubber tree, recently used as a dumping area for commercial refuse.

"Every Warwick resident is familiar with the rubber tree," he said. "It's massive. It's been there for years and it's gone through good and bad public comment. I felt it a great place to hold a festival like this, to show it in a positive light and clean up the area a bit.

"People have recently been leaving their vehicles parked there, dumping their unused trailers and trucks and dropping off large containers. If people are meeting there regularly, perhaps that will encourage them to stop."

The Minister added his congratulations to the work Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB) does in clearing garbage from the island, volunteering his assistance to the cause whenever he has free time available.

And he encouraged others to follow the efforts of the charity in keeping the island clean of refuse.

"I congratulate the KBB. The amount of trash we have on the roads should encourage more people to take pride in their neighbourhood, their property and Warwick as a whole."

Mr. Butler said 22 vendors had already signed up to participate in tomorrow's event, with additional entertainment to be provided by Eddie Ming's Drum & Percussion School, an organisation based in St. George's.

"We're encouraging anyone who has anything to sell to come along although if vendors intend to bring food we are advising that they get a health permit," he said.

"The entire event is free. It's free to the public, free to the vendors ? all they need to do is bring a table and a chair and hopefully the public will stop by and support them. If we can get people off the sidewalks and build a cultural event, I'll be delighted."