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The Trini lime must go on, no matter what. After a segment of the population went into panic mode on Friday and rushed home seeking sanctuary, the scene was different at night-time. Business owners told the Express yesterday that it was “business as usual” on Friday and Saturday on Ariapita Avenue, with crowds packing bars and restaurants despite earlier fears triggered by reports of a possible United States strike on Venezuela—claims later denied by former US President Donald Trump. Panic ensued when reports surfaced that members of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) had been called to their respective bases throughout the country. The Express visited Ariapita Avenue yesterday afternoon where, according to Mario Mohammed, manager at Frankie’s Restaurant and Bar, patrons appeared largely unfazed by the earlier alarm. “Everything was normal, people didn’t study that, it was actually a little more exciting, it didn’t affect anything,” he said. Mohammed added that customers seemed to spend more than usual, and he likened the situation to storm alerts when Trinis have a habit of coming out rather than staying in their homes. He also said despite complaints about higher alcohol prices, sales remained strong. A patron echoed the sentiment, remarking “Trinis don’t take such things seriously”. Uptick in spending Several business operators reported no decline in sales, with some even noting an uptick in spending over the weekend. Samantha (who gave only her first name), from Maple Morning Pancake House at the Food Square, said, “It was great, business was still great. The property manager also made sure that anything needed to be updated to us in a timely manner. But everybody was out, everybody was safe, there was also live entertainment and everyone just felt like it was a regular Friday.” She added that the restaurant remained open until midnight, with steady foot traffic throughout the night. “People were still coming by, other establishments opened till 3 a.m. or 4 a.m....and it didn’t stop them either.” Asked if she had felt concerned or alarmed, she said no, pointing out that she had been monitoring updates from official Government websites. An ice cream vendor at the Food Square offered a different account, describing slower sales due to heavy rain and traffic on Friday—not due to panic. “To be honest, it was normal. We didn’t see any difference, it was busier,” said a nearby gyro vendor, noting their stall stayed open until 9 o’clock the next morning. Vendors around the Queen’s Park Savannah also reported slow business, citing rain and traffic gridlock as factors that kept customers away.
