Supermarkets, gas stations experience increased activity ahead of Jerry

By Kamal Haynes, BVI News Staff

Residents have been making last-minute preparations ahead of Hurricane Jerry. This was evident by the staggering increase of activity at local supermarkets and gas stations on Friday, September 20.

BVI News ventured to several of these establishments on Tortola and spoke to a number of employees and customers.

A security officer stationed at RiteWay supermarket in Pasea Estate said the store has seen an increase in activity over the last 24 hours.

“Basically there have been a great amount of customers that have somewhat stampeded the store to grab essentials. Basically batteries, dry food, water, the basic things that can last for a period of time. That went into the hours of last night after nine o’clock, and even then, persons were still coming by the hundreds at RiteWay doing their shopping,” said the security officer who only identified himself as Mr Jones.

He further said he believes that persons are not taking Hurricane Jerry for granted.

“They’re definitely taking the shopping seriously in grabbing essentials because I have noticed that the store’s assistance staff have had to be replenishing stock and repacking the shelves as often as they can,” Jones added.

Customer Service Attendant of Bobby’s supermarket, Chevaan, told BVI News that shoppers flocked that store during the late hours of Thursday night in anticipation of the hurricane. 

“This morning it wasn’t really full like that. I thought it was a regular day … but as soon as it hit 12 o’clock, a lot of customers started to come in and asked for water, canned foods and those kinds of stuff,” the attendant said.

Our news centre also visited OneMart supermarket where an elderly customer who opted to remain anonymous said; had it not been for Hurricane Jerry, she would have left her shopping until Saturday.

“You got to be prepared. You don’t know what might come your way,” she briefly stated.

Gas stations experience increased activity

Meanwhile, service station attendants have been reporting an influx of motorists requesting higher amounts of fuel for their vehicles.

A female service station attendant of Delta Petroleum told BVI News there was a definite increase in vehicular activity at the Pasea Estate-based establishment.

“It (customer activity) has increased from yesterday since around three o’clock in the evening to 9 pm in the night. I actually came in minutes to 11 am today and it has been more than usual,” she stated.

“You find a lot of persons doing a full-up and people are doing the extra. If they normally ask for $20 they would do a full-up or $40,” she further explained.

When BVI News ventred to Big Brother’s Gas Station on Tortola, a male service station attendant told BVI News that an increase of vehicles was also observed during the day. He, too, said motorists were mostly asking for a full tank of fuel as opposed to the usual $10 or $20 amounts.