The Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises, the GRTU, has requested the Competitiveness Ministry to issue notices authorising shops and other retail outlets, including pharmacies, to open during normal shopping hours on Sunday, on this coming Wednesday, which is a public holiday, and also on Good Friday.

With the general election having fallen on the 8th of March and the aftermath having only ended on Wednesday, consumers delayed their pre-Easter shopping to the last week before the feast, the GRTU said. This meant that, between this coming Saturday and the following Saturday, there were only five shopping days during which retail business would be allowed. “Given the particular circumstances and with two public holidays falling in the last week before Easter Sunday, the request is even more reasonable,” the GRTU concluded.