[UPDATED] Businesses close early ahead of tropical storm

Republic Bank customers wait to use the ATM service at the Couva branch. - File photo
Republic Bank customers wait to use the ATM service at the Couva branch. - File photo

Throughout the country and across all sectors, companies and institutions prioritised safety over profit closing early on Tuesday amid a tropical storm warning.

All Republic Bank commercial centres including mall branches closed at 2 pm. The notice was released on the bank's Facebook page and it encouraged customers to make full use of its digital banking service.

Internet service provider Flow also announced, via Facebook, the early closure of all its retail stores at 1 pm. Flow also reactivated its virtual store which can be accessed by calling 225-CARE. It said the decision was made to prioritise the safety of its customers and staff.

University of the West Indies (UWI) closed operations to staff and students from noon. This came hours after the Ministry of Education declared that all primary and secondary schools were closed except where students had to sit CSEC or CAPE exams.

Colfire closed at noon to allow its staff to get home safely and it urged the public "to take necessary precautions in anticipation of adverse weather condition." Ferreira Optical also closed at 2 pm. Its release said all nine branches and head offices will be affected in light of the severe weather advisory.

Five JMMB branches closed at 2 pm, while five JMMB Express Finance closed at 1pm. First Citizens Bank closed its branches at 2 pm while its offices closed at 3 pm.

In a statement, the Office of the Prime Minister said Dr Rowley took the decision to close all government offices at noon. Rowley has been in the US since earlier this month for the June 6-10 Summit of the Americas, and remained there for a medical check-up.

Nalis closed its public libraries and administrative offices at 10 am. The Regulated Industries Commission in Port of Spain closure at 12.30 pm. National Petroleum closed its offices in Sea Lots and Tobago at 1 pm. The inter island ferry and water taxi services cease operations at 3 pm, and all PTSC services ended at 3.30 pm.

Fast food chain Prestige Holdings Ltd closed at 4 pm, after initially announcing it would close at 6 pm which evoked outrage on social media. It revised its closing time when the 8 pm arrival of the storm was revised to two hours earlier. Subway, Starbucks, Pizza Hut and TGI Friday also closed at 4 pm

Jaxx International Grill did not open at all on Tuesday given the impending storm. Up to press time, fast food franchises like Church’s, Rituals, Royal Castle, Mario’s, Domino’s, Burger King, Little Caesars, Max Grills among others did not announce whether or not they would close at an earlier time.

Neither Caribbean Cinemas nor MovieTowne screened movies to accommodate the safety of its staff and customers. To that effect, Trincity Mall and Long Circular Mall closed at 4pm. Shopping at the Falls at West Mall closed at 3pm. Pennywise Cosmetics closed at 3 pm.

Xtra Foods announced that all its branches will close at 4 pm. Other groceries like Massy and West Bees supermarket said the same.

This story was originally published with the title "Businesses, UWI close early because of storm" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

In light of the tropical storm warning, some busineses throughout the country are to close early.

All Republic Bank Ltd commercial centres, including mall branches, will close at 2pm on Tuesday. The notice, released on the bank's Facebook page, encouraged customers to use the digital banking service.

Internet service provider Flow also announced, via Facebook, that its retail stores will close at 1pm. Flow also reactivated its virtual store, which can be accessed by calling 225-CARE. It said the decision was made to prioritise the safety of its customers and staff.

UWI also said it would close from noon.

The Ministry of Education said on Monday night that all primary and secondary schools will close except where students are sitting CSEC or CAPE exams.

The insurance company Colfire said it was closing at noon to allow its staff to get home safely. It urged the public "to take necessary precautions" in anticipation of the bad weather.

Ferreira Optical's nine branches and head office were due to close at 2pm.

Five JMMB locations will close at 2pm as well, and five JMMB Express Finance locations will close at 1pm.

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"[UPDATED] Businesses close early ahead of tropical storm"

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