Virgin Islanders, at least in St. Thomas, appear to be taking all the Y2K hoopla in stride. There are no long lines at gas stations, nor any frantic last-minute buying in the markets – the two most visible signs of panic.
From all indications, this week has been simply business as usual. Both Plaza Extra and Pueblo Supermarkets reported sales as "normal for a holiday weekend, no extra demand."
Steve Bailey at Chuck Kline Water Service said the company has had no unusual call for water, "no more than any long weekend." This was also the case at Callwood Water Services, where Cliff Callwood said they'd had normal sales. Neither Sunny Mountain Water nor Crown Mountain Water, bottled water suppliers, reported anything but normal sales.
If you didn't fill up your tank today, don't worry. Leroy Gottlieb, of Gottlieb's Quickway Service Center in Contant, said, "There's no rush for gas at all." He said that "apparently people are just taking it as it comes."
On the other side of the island, at Tutu Esso Gas Station in Four Winds, Keith Isaac seemed surprised at the question. "Oh, no," Isaac said, "we haven't had any rush or anything –it's just normal."
So much for all the precautions about stocking up. It looks like St. Thomas is taking it one day at a time, or, as Gottlieb said, "as it comes." Film at 11, or, more accurately, at midnight Dec. 31.
