busiest shopping area for two hours last week to many merchants' surprise, yesterday labelled the activity a success.

And Bermuda's chief fire officer Mr. Reginald Rawlins said everyone who participated in the exercise, which involved a simulated fire on board the cruise ship Westward , was pleased.

But he could not say the same about several Front Street merchants who complained about the timing of the drill and not being informed in advance.

Mr. Eldon Trimingham and Mr. Henry Vesey, presidents of two major department stores Trimingham Bros. and H. A. & E. Smith Ltd, respectively, questioned the wisdom of holding the drill at the peak of the day during a slowly-rebounding tourism season.

The exercise, which involved the Fire Service, Police Force, Marine & Ports Department, the ship's agent Meyer Agencies, the Corporation of Hamilton, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, and Harbour Radio, was aimed at testing contingency plans and the preparedness of the Island's emergency services.

"The whole purpose of the exercise is to test our preparedness,'' Mr. Rawlins said after a debriefing yesterday morning.

"And judging from the exercise we're relatively well prepared. The exercise was a huge success.

"The ship's captain was very, very impressed with the way we conducted the exercise. He was also impressed with the ability of our Emergency Measures Organisation and very pleased with the way his firemen and ours worked together.'' Mr. Rawlins said the cruise ship's passengers also expressed "their happiness and sense of confidence'' that Bermuda is equipped to take care of emergency situations which may directly affect them.

But he said the complaints of the Hamilton merchants were also considered during the debriefing.

"There are pros and cons about when do you tell the public and for what reason,'' he said. "It is something that we will consider. Certainly future exercises that have a greater or lesser impact will be dealt with according to the scenario.

"But the public can be assured that exercises like this are in the public's interest at large.'' A written report, including specific points which need to be addressed by the Island's emergency services, is expected to be completed next week.