Island's businesses will shut down next weekend for Remembrance Day observations.

This year the November 11 holiday will fall on a Saturday, one of the retail industry's busiest days of the week.

Traditionally, Remembrance Day, which is usually marked by a Front Street veterans' parade and observations at the Cenotaph, is observed on the day on which the holiday actually falls.

Next week most businesses, which are being directed in the matter by the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, will comply with tradition by closing on the Saturday and opening on Monday.

By contrast, banks, Government offices and schools will be closed on the Monday -- November 13.

Supermarkets and grocery stores will follow the lead of the Chamber and close on Saturday.

Government -- through the Office of the Registrar of Companies -- is giving merchants the option of staying open on the holiday.

The businesses, however, must apply for a special permit.

As of the end of yesterday, only two businesses had applied for a November 11 permit, Mr. Steven Lowe of the Registrar's Office told The Royal Gazette .

He said that sometimes a business will "wait till the last minute''.

November 11 closure Despite the loss of business on a busy day of the week, most businesses were philosophical yesterday about closing on a Saturday.

"It's only once in seven years (that Remembrance Day falls on a Saturday),'' Mr. Peter Cooper, owner of A.S. Cooper and Sons, said. "I think we can live with it.'' "It is simply a fact of life,'' added Mr. Roger Davidson, president of H.A.& E. Smith.

Others, however, said they would much rather have joined the Government and the banks in closing on the Monday.

And some also resented the need for a Government permit to stay open on Saturday.

"It is just so stupid,'' said Mr. Hugh Watlington of Sail On in Hamilton.

"Either you have to close on one of the busiest days of the week or go to the Ministry and pay for a permit. It's like having a gun to our heads.'' Even Chamber of Commerce president Mr. Robert Rego said that he wished it were otherwise.

"I'd prefer to see the holiday on the Monday,'' said the Knick Knack general manager. "Saturday for the retail industry is one of the busiest days of the week.'' Nonetheless, most merchants felt that it would be "crass'' and "disrespectful'' to the Island's veterans to open on Remembrance Day.

Many also hoped that the loss of business on November 11 would be made up by the bank and Government workers who would be off on the Monday.