Kamla Says ‘I Love Her’ as She Looks Forward to Meeting Delcy Rodríguez Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says she loves Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez and is looking forward to finally meeting her, as Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela move towards a closer relationship following recent diplomatic engagement between the neighbouring countries. Asked directly whether she had a message for Rodríguez, Persad-Bissessar responded: “I love her. I look forward to meeting her.” The Prime Minister said plans are being worked on for the two leaders to meet around the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month, potentially around September 25. Persad-Bissessar made it clear, however, that the proposed meeting has not yet been finalised. “There is a plan. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll let you know, but that is a plan,” she said, adding that Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Sean Sobers is working on the arrangements. The comments came as Persad-Bissessar was questioned about Sobers’ recent visit to Venezuela and whether it could help bridge relations between Port of Spain and Caracas. Asked whether she intended to meet Rodríguez, Persad-Bissessar said she was prepared to engage with anyone where doing so served Trinidad and Tobago. “I will meet with anyone who wishes to meet me,” she said. Persad-Bissessar said she would do whatever was necessary for the people of Trinidad and Tobago and later described Sobers’ visit to Venezuela as successful, saying the minister “did very well.” The Prime Minister also highlighted the close ties between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, revealing that her mother-in-law is Venezuelan and that two of her grand-nephews are Venezuelan. “Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, we have very, very close ties,” she said. Persad-Bissessar said whatever needed to be done would be pursued in the best interests of both countries. Asked what Trinidad and Tobago could expect following Sobers’ visit, she replied: “Expect the best. Expect the best, so more to come.” The Prime Minister also expressed strong confidence about the prospects of Venezuelan natural gas reaching Trinidad and Tobago. Asked whether gas could begin coming from Venezuela within the next year, Persad-Bissessar said she had “absolutely no doubt” that it would happen. She pointed to the close geographical proximity between the countries and said agreements have already been signed with BP, while the Government hopes to conclude agreements involving Shell, XRG and other companies. “I have absolutely no doubt that in the next year, we will see natural gas coming to Trinidad and Tobago,” Persad-Bissessar said. She linked the prospects for energy cooperation to the improving relationship between the two countries, describing the process as a rapprochement with Venezuela. “We are neighbours. Well, we are, in fact, family, as I just shared with you,” Persad-Bissessar said. Her remarks signal an increasingly warm tone between Port of Spain and Caracas, with a potential face-to-face meeting between Persad-Bissessar and Rodríguez now being planned as both sides pursue closer engagement.
