ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — A longstanding electrical fault, which has reportedly caused shocks to both staff and customers on multiple occasions, led to the early closure of the Portmore Tax Office in St Catherine shortly after 10:00 am on Friday morning.

The decision to close the facility followed another incident where an employee was shocked, which was described as the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.

Disgruntled customers were reportedly informed of the closure by a manager/supervisor, who bluntly stated that an employee had been shocked. He also shared that he had been shocked in the past as someone held onto him while they were being shocked.

The senior employee mentioned that attempts had been made to fix the problem, including recent efforts, and it was believed to have been resolved.

Another employee told Observer Online that the electrical issue has been affecting both staff and customers.

When our news team visited around 10:50 am, the gate of the tax office was closed, and the tight-lipped security guard on duty was turning away disgruntled customers, redirecting them to offices in Spanish Town and downtown Kingston. He declined to explain why the facility closed early.

Employees were observed gathering outside at the corner of the building towards the back of the premises in what appeared to be a meeting.

It is not immediately clear how long the tax office will remain closed.