over shoppers being driven overseas.

In his Budget speech, Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul called on retailers to rethink marketing and mark-up practices.

But one store boss has dubbed the plea a "slap in the face''.

Mr. William Cox, general manager of Pearman Watlington, said local companies were forced to cope with high duties at the docks.

And he revealed he would be seeking a meeting with Dr. Saul.

Other traders agreed, blaming high duties for making it difficult to compete with United States retailers.

Dr. Saul had voiced fears over the impact of overseas buying sprees, claiming it hit local job prospects.

Unveiling his Budget he declared: "The growing practice of Bermudians buying goods overseas is of concern to the local retail sector and to Government.

"Savings for the individual buyer achieved through this practice have to be set against the negative impact this activity has on the viability of the local retail sector, and, in particular, on local employment.

"Clearly, local retailers need to re-think both their marketing and mark-up practices in light of changing circumstances both here and abroad.'' Dr. Saul said Government was looking forward to recommendations from the Committee of Competitiveness and a Chamber of Commerce working group.

Last year goods worth $22.5 million were bought abroad -- an 8.3 percent increase on 1991.

Figures for December, 1992, however, showed a 2.8 percent drop on the same month the previous year.

On Friday the Chamber of Commerce discussed the Budget, and will be releasing a statement shortly.

Mr. Eldon Trimingham, president of Trimingham Bros, was enthusiastic about the Budget.

"I think overall it is both sensitive and appropriate. It is good for the Country and timely.'' Mr. Trimingham urged people against taking "umbrage'' over Dr. Saul's appeal for a rethink.

"I think retailers should rethink their marketing practices, and indeed they are constantly doing so.'' But Mr. Trimingham emphasised retailers in Bermuda and the United States were not operating on a level playing field.

"We have to pay duty on merchandise when it comes in,'' he said.

Mr. Trimingham underlined the problems faced by retailers, shown by the closure of Club Monaco, and shrinkage of Marks & Spencer.

It was important also to remember how many people depended on retailers, including warehouses and wholesalers, and the media.

Mr. Trimingham said pricing in Bermuda was "amazingly'' competitive with that in the United States in the circumstances.

"To get an item on the shelf in the US costs about four percent of the cost of item.

"In Bermuda it costs about 15 percent of the cost of the item.'' Mrs. Susan Bawn, general manager of Gibbons Company, said she had not studied the Budget.

But it did not appear to offer much for the retail sector, she claimed.

Mrs. Bawn said she resented any suggestion local retailers were "robbers''.

"I have been here a long time to know this is not the case at all,'' she said.

"We have to pay duty up front when goods arrive on the dock. We can't make any inroads into reducing our mark-ups unless we start to get a few breaks, like not paying duty on the point of entry.''