PoS businesses reopen, but owners cautious after blast

Colsort Mall, Excellent Stores, Aboutique Mall and other stores on lower Frederick Street were open while the stores closer to Queen Street and nearest the explosion site including Maraj Jewelers, Photomart and Detour remained closed. Stores on the opposite side of the road such as Payless Shoe Store, Micles and Town Centre Mall remained closed as forensic investigations continued.

Elizabeth Raghoo, manager of Wonderful World told Newsday: "Depending on the flow of customers we will decide if to close. If there is another bomb explosion or bomb scare we are totally out of here."

During the melee, as people ran away from the explosion, an unidentified man ran into Wonderful World and collapsed. Raghoo said staff initially thought it was a bandit who had been shot and was running from his attackers. It was later revealed that he was one of the injured.

Raghoo said she had been terrified by the events of the day and was afraid to go near garbage bins.

Kenny De Silva, manager of Kenny’s Sports Centre located at the corner of Queen and Chacon Streets, said he had no problems reopening.

"Things are quiet and justifiably so. There must be a level of concern among citizens of the twin island state."

He said his store would remain open until it is necessary to close.

"Life must go on. We cannot just run away. What happened must be the work of a minority group with a mindset of destruction. To run away would be assisting their cause."