Panic buying cleans out Tobago groceries

TOBAGO supermarkets reportedly ran out of several basic food items including biscuits, sardines, bottled water and candles by noon yesterday, following Met Office bulletins which indicated that the tail of  Hurricane Ivan may sweep over the sister isle. Meanwhile, officials at the Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation (Plipdeco) said all “standard technical precautions” and extra security measures were being implemented at the nation’s second largest port. Balliram Maharaj, whose distribution company is a major supplier of foodstuff to the sister isle, said reports from a number of distribution outlets indicated Tobagonians heeded media advisories about the impending hurricane. “We supply the major supermarkets on the island and they said all of the basic staples were finished,” Maharaj said.

However, he indicated there were no reports of any unusual panic buying  from members of the Trinidad chapter of the Supermarkets Association. Checks with a number of South supermarkets confirmed Maharaj’s observation, as a number of store managers said there were no instances of panic buying. However, one supermarket manager observed Trinidadians were notorious “last minute buyers,” and opined that supermarkets may be flooded half-hour before closing time. Meanwhile, a Plipdeco official said activities were being personally supervised by acting president Raoul Ali and coordinated between the National Emergency Management Authority, (NEMA) the National Gas Company (NGC) and the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Associa-tion (TTMA.) At the San Fernando Yacht Club, all boats were reportedly docked in their respective moorings.