Fast food outlets at Gulf City Mall, San Fernando, reported a 50 per cent drop in sales yesterday, in the face of the as yet unconfirmed threat of Isis attacks on malls across Trinidad this weekend.
The report of losses also comes one day after police ordered several businesses, which were opened on the Corpus Christi public holiday on Thursday, to close and evacuate the premises.
Yesterday there was an uneasy calm among shoppers and business owners alike, as police officers joined private security guards to patrol the shopping complex.
Food outlets, which were the hardest hit by the alleged terrorist plot made public via social media on Monday, reported that since Wednesday they began observing fewer customers and had to slash their prices by half.
They yesterday reduced the quantity of meals prepared but there was still not the usual influx of customers requesting meals. Given that it was a Friday and month-end, business owners said this means that people were taking the threat seriously.
Ryan Bassant, who owns the food outlet Grill Em Up, said since Wednesday his sales had been on the decline.
“Normally we start reducing our food prices between 6.30 pm to 8 pm, but on Wednesday we started reducing our prices by half from 3 pm. Today we catered half the amount of food than usual,” Bassant said.
He added that the number of people at the mall had decreased significantly. Asked whether he felt safe, Bassant said he had confidence in the police and Gulf City’s private security. He also said he took additional security measures and had ordered his staff to keep the back door closed.
Store manager at Detour Gents Store, Deokie Rajkumar, said her staff had some security concerns on Wednesday but everyone came out for work yesterday.
“I don’t feel scared. I know that this is a big scam to make things look bad,” Rajkumar said.
She also added that she had not yet seen the usual influx of customers shopping for Father’s Day. Rajkumar, however, said the recession had also taken a toll on shopping.
Customer service representative at Kiss Baking Company, Tinesha Joseph, said she did not notice anything untoward at the mall yesterday.
“I think everything is normal. I am still seeing a lot of people at the mall,” she added.
Denyse Pardasie, her mother Fahrine and brother Adrian, who were seen having lunch in the food court, said they were not worried.
“Whatever has to happen will happen. God is with us so we are not afraid,” Fahrine added.