THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2: Shoppers are being urged to buy local and help support the Bermuda economy.

Recently the Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation (BSDC) partnered with the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce on an advertising drive aimed at getting people to buy their goods in Bermuda. Figures show that consumer spending on the Island has fallen for 18 consecutive months.

This afternoon Shadow Finance Minister E.T. (Bob) Richards, issued a statement backing the drive to keep shopping in Bermuda.

He said: “It always makes sense for us as a people, as Bermudians, to extend a helping hand to those in our midst who are struggling – to be our brother’s keeper. This is especially so in tough economic times such as we are experiencing today.

“Today, I want to join with others in urging the people of Bermuda to shop local in the lead-up to Christmas.

“Bermuda’s retail sector has always demonstrated a stubborn resilience in the face of the shifting nature of the local market and immense competition from on-line purchasing and overseas stores coupled with the ability of Bermuda’s population to fly to them.

“But today the challenge for shopkeepers is nearing the breaking point. The retail sector has reported declining sales for 18 consecutive months. Shop shutdowns and job lay-offs have resulted.

“The facts are that the retail sector is largely Bermudian owned and staffed. The danger is, once this recession is behind us, and one day it will be, the survivors may be too few to even be called a sector, and Bermuda will poorer for it.”