Back to business in Bridgetown

With persons venturing outdoors even before the passage of Tropical Storm Matthew, it should come as no surprise that persons descended into Bridgetown on Thursday after the all clear had been given. Barbados, having received no severe consequences from the storm, conducted business as usual in its capital.

 

Swan Street in particular was most occupied with consumers, commuters and workers roaming it. Supermarkets on this stretch were by far the most occupied. One employee from the popular cosmetique, Cherish noted that there has been a “steady flow” of consumers throughout the day.

 

Abed’s and #1 Beauty Supply too reported seeing a consistent influx of consumers despite the weather that had befallen the country just hours before.

 

However, Broad Street was not as busy. Still being the route of much vehicular traffic, pedestrian traffic was not the same. Reports coming from Cave Shepherd indicated that the store was “very quiet” for the better part of the day. This was said to be possibly due in part to the late start that most businesses decided on after receiving the “all clear” from the Department of Emergency Management.

 

By the same token, commercial banks, who outlined that their opening time would be 11 a.m., saw a “hassle free”, to use one manager’s words, day yesterday as well. Short queues were generally the order of the day.

 

As for some other businesses, they were still feeling the plight of Matthew. Some employers stated that they were greatly under-staffed due to employees living in areas that were susceptible to flooding, power outages and a lack of water.

 

Nevertheless, they are expecting business to resume to normal by weekend.