Sunday shopping is here ? but the initial euphoria at the Chamber of Commerce on hearing the news was slowly dissipating yesterday afternoon as the policy itself was outlined.

Finance Minister Paula Cox announced that she will be introducing an amendment to the Public Holidays Act 1947 allowing all retail stores to open between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on public holidays other than Christmas and Good Friday.

?For a long time now, the retail community has requested a relaxation of the public holiday or Sunday trading regimes,? she said.

?It was not an unanimous call, but clearly a majority was in favour. There has been some relaxation of the policy since 1999 and the changes have been widely accepted by the community and welcomed by consumers. For many grocery stores, Sunday is now the busiest shopping day of the week.?

The Ministry of Finance undertook extensive consultation on the matter, she said. Even Bermuda?s religious sector appeared to be behind the move, with Ms Cox quoting an unnamed ?leading member of the clergy in Bermuda? who supported Sunday shopping both from the point of view of locals and visitors.

However the clergyman, like Ms Cox, noted that a balance must be struck between consumer convenience and the needs of those employed in the retail trade.

?Balance will be the key feature of any further relaxation of Sunday and holiday trading regimes,? she stated. ?Flexibility for the business operator but also fairness for their employees.

?Needless to say, I am concerned about the employees, and with this in mind I will soon introduce amendments to the Public Holidays Act to provide for safeguards that will protect employees? right to not work on public holidays.

?This policy will come into effect on the commencement date of the proposed amendments.?

The new policy will, among other things, allow for any shop with less than 2,500 square feet in retail floor space to be open for business at any time on Sundays and public holidays, and the licence fee will remain unchanged, she said.

Meanwhile those stores with greater than 2,500 square feet in retail floor space will be restricted to opening between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. and their licence fee will be increased. ?This new fee will soon be made public when the amendment to the Government Fees Act is tabled in the House of Assembly.?

Chamber of Commerce president Charles Gosling expressed concern about that process, however.

?The process of licensing and the cost of the licensing fee are just another unnecessary hindrance for retailers,? he said. ?No other industry on the Island is regulated in such a manner.?

The Minister noted in her speech that the number of workers employed in the retail sector was decreasing, he pointed out. Given the lack of foresight and a free rein to do business, he said, that downward trend will just continue.

?This is really just a case where we wish Government would step back and let business do business.?

Those wishing to acquire a license to open on Sundays and public holidays must apply to the Minister of Finance through the Registrar of Companies.

Applications are available at the Registrar of Companies Department on the fourth floor of the Government Administration Building on Parliament Street.