PoS shuts down for World Cup

Those businesses which did not close, either brought in radios or TVs to let their workers see the game or hosted World Cup limes for the public.

When Newsday visited City Gate yesterday, there were large numbers of people waiting for buses or hustling to board maxi-taxis to go home and see the game. Those waiting for buses, had their eyes riveted to the TVs on the walls of the bus terminal, hoping to see some part of the game before their bus arrived.

At various taxi-stands throughout the city, there were large numbers of people waiting for cars to take them home in time to see the match. Acting Port-of-Spain Mayor Rishi Lakhan said he was aware that some businesses within the city were giving their workers time off to watch the game. He said arrangements were already in place at Port-of-Spain City Hall for members of the public to watch the TT-Paraguay match and he was encouraging people to come to City Hall.

Checks with officials at RBTT, First Citizens Bank and Scotia Bank branches in Port-of-Spain, revealed that there were large numbers of persons who came when the banks opened at 8 am in order to complete whatever business they needed to and hustle home to see the match. The officials said while most of their branches closed at the usual 2 pm time, some of the branches in the country’s malls closed an hour earlier. Notices were posted on some business places, such as the TTEC customer service office in South Quay informing the public that would be closed at 3 pm (the time when the match begins).

Newsday was also informed that the Unit Trust Corporation head office on Independence Square and several insurance companies and other businesses in the city were also closed at about 2 pm to give their workers enough time to get home to see the game.

Meanwhile other businesses such as Courts and Tony Roma’s held World Cup limes for the public at their respective locations. TT Manufacturers Association (TTMA) president Paul Quesnel told Newsday that TTMA staffers were allowed to work through the lunch hour so they could leave early to see the game and some workers would be watching the game at the TTMA’s Barataria office. Quesnel said he would be watching the game at the Caribbean Shoppe in St James and was optimistic that the Warriors would do well against Paraguay.

San Juan Business Association president Gail Merhair said she was aware of several businesses in the San Juan area closing half-day because of the game.

Like Quesnel, Merhair said she was hoping for victory but TT would be proud of the Warriors regardless of the outcome.