In the two months since the September 11 tragedy, the Island has seen a number of businesses close their doors.

These include, in Hamilton; the Scottish Wool Ship, the Reid Street branch of the Harbourmaster, Smuggler's Reef, Trimingham's Garden Cafe and the announcement last week that Meyer Travel would close its Washington Mall office. The agency is also considering whether or not to close its Dockyard office. Also in Dockyard, the Smuggler's Cove and Gifts from the Seven Seas have closed. And the White Horse Tavern, St. George is now shut down.

In the face of business closures and staff layoffs, Finance Minister Eugene Cox, in a House address on Friday, urged the country to support local enterprise and "Buy Bermuda."

Speaking of the recently launched shop-at-home "Buy Bermuda" initiative, Mr. Cox said it had been backed by Government with the Finance Ministry paying $49,000 towards the programme's costs. But, Mr. Cox added: "There have been justifiable reasons for criticising the retail sector which has not been as kind and innovative as it could be," he said.