ERROR This is the version of the story which the Library received. For some reason a portion of it, the continuation appears to be missing. However, this is the manner in which it appeared in the newspaper.

An Island shipping firm is set to solve the Island's mounting air freight crisis with a $60,000-plus deal to bring in a specially-chartered cargo jet from next week.

And flights into Bermuda could start as early as January 20 if merchandise-starved importers put up the cash for a joint venture with Bermuda Forwarders.

The two-flights-a week deal with international cargo carriers Emery Worldwide was struck by Bermuda Forwarders' international air and sea cargo manager William Forbes.

Mr. Forbes said: "I'm now in the position to say to the local market that if they now join with us, particularly in the risk, we can now lay on a service.

"We have a flight ready to take off in the next few days -- we hope to have everything in place by Wednesday.'' The flights will be operated by the Dayton, Ohio-based air firm, which runs a fleet of 60 cargo jets.

Bermuda would be serviced on Tuesdays and Thursdays by a stretched version of the McDonnell Douglas DC8 capable of carrying more than 100,000 pounds of cargo per trip.

The move came after Delta Airlines axed its wide-bodied jets for the winter season for the first time.

But Delta's decision -- which cut the winter air freight capacity to Bermuda by around 80 percent at a stroke -- caused a crisis in the retail trade, particularly in terms of fresh produce like fish, meat and flowers.

Mr. Forbes said some florists were so desperate for merchandise, staff members were being sent to the US on passenger flights to bring back flowers as personal baggage.

He added: "Many of the shops have signs up saying they are out of this, that or the other.

"But this is truly a community effort by Bermuda's importers, led by us.

"And it's better than sitting about wringing our hands until spring comes along.'' A group of around 30 importers, including hard-hit supermarkets, have already agreed to underwrite the venture in principle, following a crisis meeting at the end of last year. The group estimated they could guarantee around 53,000 pounds of cargo -- more than enough to make Emery flights an economic venture.

And last night faxes from Bermuda Forwarders with the final details of the scheme went out to all of them with a deadline of Wednesday to sign up formally.

Mr. Forbes said: "The only challenge we have is to get the local market to come to the wicket with their money -- which they have already agreed to do.