Parents are being urged to take their children to the e-commerce expo being held in Hamilton this week to help them find a place in the burgeoning e-conomy in Bermuda.

Minister of Telecommunications and E-commerce, Renee Webb, said that parents should take their children to Bermuda and the World E-conomy Expo 2001 at the Number One shed for the sake of their future.

"I would urge parents to bring their children to this Expo,'' said Ms Webb after officially opening the event yesterday afternoon. "Today information technology is key to our young men and women. It is important that they see what opportunities exist and what potential this sector has for them.'' The expo kicked off yesterday with a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Minister with giant oversized scissors and will continue today and Saturday until lunchtime.

The show is aimed at informing Bermudians of all ages about e-commerce and the way this new sector will affect the Island's future.

Also key to the event is letting children and young adults see the prospects that this sector can hold for those wishing to have a career in IT.

Schools from across the Island have been invited to attend the event which is also hosting seminars over the three days.

Nick Faries, President of the Computer Society of Bermuda which is behind the event, said: "This event is of benefit to the kids and students themselves and to the businesses here.

"As an IT professional, I see there is a shortage of Bermudians in IT. Being Bermudian myself, I would like to see more people looking at coming into this field. It is expensive to bring in non-Bermudians to the Island to do this kind of work. We want to help Bermudians prepare for their future.'' The event is designed not just for computer whiz-kids, but also for the general public to help them understand this complex field. It is the only event of its kind on the Island.

Saturday's event will highlight career opportunities for all age groups within the sector, and there will be a series of seminars throughout today on the computer industry in Bermuda.

Tickets can be bought at the door -- $10 for adults and, $7 for Computer Society members and $5 for students.

Joking apart: Minister Renee Webb went walk-about during the Expo 2001 yesterday visiting each booth in turn. Here she meets with Tim Davis, senior systems engineer at Alcatel, and exhibitor Dwyer Williams.