to wind up the affairs of the Bermuda Workers Co-operative Society (BWCS), known as the Island Co-Op or the Co-Op Supemarket.

It is the beginning of the last chapter of a near 30-year-old experiment born out of a desire after the turbulent 1960s, to provide a better economic footing for workers in a co-operative setting.

It began as a small enterprise out of a family-owned building on Cox's Hill, before its closure in 1980. A similar idea was employed in a subsequent operation which was opened the same year at the current location on Union Street.

But in the end, it fell victim to a number of issues, not the least of which was the corporate reality of modern day, multi-store competition.

The three largest supermarket or grocery store operations each have at least two stores on the Island, providing economies of scale that are hard to compete with by single store entities.

The latest action in the courts, filed two days before Christmas, is believed to be aimed at an orderly winding up of the affairs of the operation. The business is represented by lawyers Trott & Duncan, whose offices are closed until next Monday.

The store closed its doors in October, ironically just eight months after management said the firm was turning around.

This month, three major suppliers have filed writs against the BWCS executive committee of president Victor Fishington, and members Chris Furbert, Carlton Johnson, June Augustus, Clarence Smith, Ann Webb, Edward Callabras and George Scott.

Butterfield & Co. Ltd. (trading as Butterfield & Vallis) filed for $166,554.97; Winter Cookson Petty Ltd. filed for $111,660.32; and, BDC Ltd.

(trading as Bermuda General Agency) filed for $70,853.08.

Another writ filed by the former manager, Harrison Isaac, against the executive has been withdrawn. Mr. Isaac was a key player in the bid to turn the business around since April of 1996.

The store, which reportedly owed about a half a million dollars, is not incorporated as a limited liability company.

BUSINESS BUC