show what it is made of, claims Government's Senate Leader.

"The Co-Op situation is a golden opportunity for the Opposition to show the country how they deal with difficult situations,'' said Government Senate Leader E.T. (Bob) Richards .

The comments came during yesterday's motion to adjourn in the Upper House.

"Show Bermudians how you will deal with situations,'' he added.

But Opposition Senate Leader Milton Scott declined to be drawn into a debate on the issue noting that the matter was still before the courts.

"I thought we flogged the Co-Op to death already,'' he said. "The matter is in the courts and hasn't concluded yet. We should not speak on matters that are before the courts.'' The Co-Op closed earlier this year with debts of $1.4 million. Government politicians have linked the collapse with the ability of the PLP to run Government if elected.

A row erupted in the Senate last month when Sen. Richards said: "If the PLP can't run a supermarket, how can you expect them to run a Country?'' PLP chairman Victor Fishington is president of the Bermuda Workers Cooperative Society, the organisation that owned and operated the Co-Op.

PLP officials have maintained that there is no link between the two organisations.