<B>The budget was presented two weeks ago. Have the new prices been applied in your supermarkets? </B>

We have taken all possible measures since the presentation of the budget 2005-06 to apply the new prices. We display, on the shelves, the old as well as the new prices of the products concerned. This enables the customers to know exactly what changes have been made in the prices. However, some of our suppliers have still not communicated the new prices to us, thus preventing us from displaying the prices of a few products. To ensure that everything is done according to the law, officers of the ministry of Commerce came to my shop less than a week ago. All the new prices should be up to date within the next fifteen days.

<B>How does the retail sector welcome the government?s project to make Mauritius a duty- free island? </B>

We, at GSR, consider that this project will benefit Mauritian consumers a lot. Since the government began talking about this project, the population has shown its interest in it as they realize that they will be able to afford many more things. It?s an advantage for the retailers too as it will attract more customers. However, for this project to be viable, measures must be taken to stabilise the Mauritian rupee. Otherwise, the situation will be back to what it was before the presentation of the budget.