Auntie Cheryl’s Trinidad Update

Chaguanas, Trinidad | Thursday, April 9, 2026

Auntie Cheryl reads the Guardian over her morning tea. She has a lot of feelings about national affairs.

KAMLA GOING TO VENEZUELA AND AUNTIE CHERYL IS SUPPORTIVE

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced that a diplomatic delegation will travel to Venezuela to secure T&T’s share of the cross-border gas resources. Auntie Cheryl says: about time. We have gas sitting right there under the sea and we can’t access it because of permit problems with the Americans. Now Kamla going to get it sorted. This is what leadership looks like. Auntie Cheryl has put on her good blouse in spirit.

THAT GHANY SITUATION IS VERY SAD

The killing of businessman Steve Ghany Junior is very sad. Very sad. The National Security Minister said he spent time with the man just days before. That is even sadder when you think about it. Auntie Cheryl is not going to speculate. She just wants to say: prayers for the family. This country loses too many people.

THE KIDNAPPING RESCUE WAS FAST

The police took apart an entire kidnapping network and rescued that 73-year-old woman within hours. Auntie Cheryl was very relieved to read this. The woman is someone’s grandmother. Someone’s auntie. The fact that the police moved quickly is something to be acknowledged. Ten people in custody. This is a good outcome. Auntie Cheryl is giving the police their flowers on this one.

CARICOM: T&T HAS A RIGHT TO SPEAK UP

Auntie Cheryl understands that some people feel Trinidad is being difficult about the CARICOM Secretary-General situation. But Auntie Cheryl says: every country has a voice. If T&T was not consulted properly, it is right to say so. That is how organisations are supposed to work. You consult people. You don’t just pass things through. Auntie Cheryl has been in enough community committees to know that when you don’t consult people properly, they will make their displeasure known at the worst possible time.

THE FIRE TENDERS

$69 million in new fire tenders commissioned in Penal. The Fire Service has been needing new equipment for years. Auntie Cheryl’s neighbour’s son is in the Fire Service and she is going to call him to ask if his station got new equipment. She suspects they did not, but she will ask.

RIO CARDINES STAYING AT CRYSTAL PALACE

Auntie Cheryl is very proud of Rio Cardines. She watched him on YouTube and cried a small tear. A seventeen-year-old Trinidadian boy playing in the English Premier League and signing contract extensions. His mother must be beside herself with joy. Auntie Cheryl is also beside herself with joy on behalf of his mother.

THE SEA EXAMINATION

The children in Arima said the SEA was easy. Auntie Cheryl’s grandniece also wrote the SEA. She did not say it was easy. She said “it was fine.” Auntie Cheryl is taking “fine” as a positive sign and will maintain this position until the results come back.

Auntie Cheryl lives in Chaguanas and reads the news over her morning tea every day without fail. She is unfailingly optimistic about Trinidad’s future.