danger of going out of business if Government does not provide them with the concessions they need to remain viable.

Ian Smith, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce's visitor retail division, said some shops could close their doors before the end of 2001 if hefty importation duties were not relaxed to allow shops to make a profit. He said more money would allow businesses to make capital improvements and improve selection to attract Bermudians and visitors through their doors.

Peter Cooper, of AS Cooper & Sons, added that Government had promised to implement duty-free shopping but had yet to deliver. He admitted that sales at his department store were not going well.

Mr. Smith said many shops were operating "on borrowed time'' and that sooner or later losses would force them to close down.

"It will take a whole rash of closures to get the message across that this industry needs help,'' he said.

Mr. Smith also pointed out that the limited human resources in Bermuda posed problems for retailers, who could not bring in sales people on work permits.

The news came after retailers met on Tuesday to discuss various issues, including the implications of relaxing the 60/40 ownership rule.

See Business, page 19