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CNN World Report

Chelsea Flower Show Awards Caribbean Countries

Aired July 08, 2001 - 14:47   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: Over 600 gardeners and flower enthusiasts from around the world have converged at Britain's renowned Chelsea Flower Show. On display: Exquisite displays and floral arrangements, as well as gardening trends and scientific research.

The three Caribbean island nations impressed the judges with their creativity and talent. Jamaica, Grenada, and Barbados took home most of the awards.

Here is Barbados' Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation with the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLAUDE GRAHAM, CARIBBEAN BROADCASTING CORP. (voice-over): It was the best year ever for the Caribbean with Grenada winning gold for the first time and Barbados adding yet another gold to its impressive tally of eight gold and five silver medals. A third Caribbean country, Jamaica, received a nod for the silver medal. Visitors to Chelsea were quite vocal in their approval in the Caribbean display.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely gorgeous. So many varieties and it's one of best. I take a picture of it because it's so nice.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Caribbean need to focus on the good things of what we are all about and I love coming to support them, and I continue to do so year after year.

GRAHAM: Of course, there are benefits to be had from recognition from the Chelsea Floral Show. Success at this event provides important linkages to tourism, the number one industry for the region.

RUTH ROUSE, GRENADA HIGH COMM. TO UK: The importance attached to flowers and gardens is the tremendous here in the UK, and you have thousands of visitors passing through this very week seeing the gardens and the flowers and it is a great encouragement, and I think tourism will be much better for it.

GRAHAM: A lot of rituals involved in preparing for Chelsea. When all is said and done the most important outcome is a display of a sticker, preferably gold. The reaction is spontaneous.

SUSAN GAYWODD, GOLD MEDAL WINNER: I'm thrilled; it's our first gold. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Marvelous. Wonderful. All that hard work and this is the ultimate prize that we could possibly get, our gold medal.

GRAHAM: Over 200,000 visitors viewed this year's Chelsea exhibits.

The next show for Barbados will be "Canada in Bloom," to be staged in Toronto next March.

Claude Graham, CBC TV Barbados for the CNN WORLD REPORT.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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