A Hamilton shopkeeper branded Works and Engineering "discourteous" after they blocked off her shop on the busiest trading day.

Gillian Farge, who owns Island Trading, on Spurling Hill in Hamilton said she was shocked when she arrived at her shop Saturday morning and found it "marooned and surrounded" by steamrollers and trucks from the Ministry of Works and Engineering.

Though she asked them to clear some space to allow her customers to park the road workers would not comply and told her there was little they could do.

"This Government department had not even had the courtesy to forewarn a Hamilton shopkeeper that customers would find them unreachable on the busiest trading day of the week," she exclaimed.

"I had employed a staff of six Bermudian workers that day — I have an obligation to keep them and pay them.

"Had I been advised about this road project, I would have considered closing my business or just hiring a skeleton staff. This total lack of consideration horrifies and disappoints me."

Saturday's are usually Mrs. Farge's busiest day however this weekend only five people entered the store.

A supervisor said that a notice was placed in the Bermuda Sun about the road works but Mrs. Farge said she, nor her staff, had seen the notice.

She added that a notice should have been dropped off in advance warning her of the considerable disruption that was going to take place.

"I do understand that road works have to be done, but some staggering of areas, possible using the Sunday to do the work next to any businesses, should have been considered," she said.

"I am left feeling angry, disillusioned, out-of-pocket and with lots of extra work to do to clear the layer of dirt that is now embedded in our shop blinds, furniture and shop frontage."