of Opposition MPs after they were asked to move -- simply because a party of Government Ministers had walked in.

UBP Whip Cole Simons said the incident showed small businesses were fearful of Government.

He said: "We go there every week and sit at the same table. This time we made a reservation.

"We saw Paula Cox and Eugene Cox come in and we asked them to join us. They declined because they said there was a group of them. Then the Maitre 'd said we had to move.

"When we asked why, we were told `because she's upset' -- by that I assume they meant the Premier.

"There were several of them -- Dame Lois Brown Evans and Dr. Ewart Brown were there as well.

"The Maitre 'd said we couldn't be in the same room -- we would have to move to the next room.

"This woman was shaking in her boots -- to have regular clients like us -- it took a lot for this lady to move us.

"We never did this when we were government.'' He said the decision was doubly daft because the table the UBP had picked, at the front by the window, was well out of sight and earshot of the back table the Government party had picked.

Even so the UBP group was asked to move into a separate room.

Mr. Simons said: "My concern is not that we were moved but that people feel intimidated by this government.

"Most of the staff are expats concerned for themselves and their owners.'' "I worry that small businesses feel their business is compromised by serving the opposition in the presence of the government.'' "They should not intimidate businesses.'' Mr. Simons said he would still consider using the restaurant after yesterday's incident but some of his colleagues would now be dining elsewhere.

Shadow Health Minister Kim Young was another who had her lunch interrupted yesterday.

She said: "What will happen to us next time the Premier comes in? Are we going to move again? I'm disgusted.

"It violates my human rights. We never ask people to move away from us when we are at a table. This makes me very uncomfortable.'' However Le Figaro Director Frank Schmitz denied the decision to ask the UBP group to move had been prompted by a request by anyone in the Government party.

He said: "It was a situation the Maitre 'd handled. It was not requested by Government.'' "It's difficult, not only do you have to deal with the competing restaurants but also party politics -- if you don't have the experience to deal with it then it gets very difficult.'' He said the situation would have been handled better if he had been present but because he did not have a work permit he had to stay away from the business.