BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Wellington Road Branch of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) remains closed for almost a week following a staged robbery at that branch, with no confirmed date of reopening.
Days after the tragic event, which left two employees traumatised, security presence was still felt on the site of the financial institution, and though the Automated Teller Machine remains accessible to the public, the bank has not since been opened.
On a visit to the site, SKNVibes observed a member of a notable private security agency was seated in the bank behind the closed door, while customers transacted their business at the Automated Teller Machine.
This media house was reliably informed that on Monday morning (Jul. 5), one female employee was taken to the JNF Hospital for suspected trauma. The source explained that the woman was visibly trembling when she attempted to open the door leading to her place of employ, and on entering she collapsed on the floor.
Information reaching SKNVibes states that local bank officials have been in constant dialogue with their parent company, discussing the way forward for the bank and its branches. Inside sources revealed yesterday (Jul. 6) that the branch may not be opened for the remainder of the week.
The official noted that due to the sensitivity of situation and a “combination of different reasons”, it is uncertain when that branch would be reopened to the public. A press statement is expected to be released later this week outlining the bank’s plan of action.
During last Thursday’s (Jul. 1) robbery, a group of armed, masked men entered the bank, which is situated at S.L. Horsford’s Shopping Complex on the southern side of Valu Mart IGA on Wellington Road, and robbed a male customer of his wallet containing an undisclosed sum of money.
One individual who had been arrested in relation to the robbery was released on the afternoon of Monday, July 5. To date, no one has been charged in relation to this matter.
