Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday publicly expressed her love for Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez as she disclosed that plans are under way for a possible meeting between the two leaders later this month on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.Persad-Bissessar also expressed confidence that natural gas from Venezuela will flow to Trinidad and Tobago, declaring that she expects this to become a reality within the next year.The Prime Minister fielded questions from journalists on these and other issues on the steps of the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain yesterday, following the ceremonial opening of the 2026-2027 law term.

Venezuela Interim President: Delcy Rodriguez

Her comments come amid renewed diplomatic engagement between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.On September 3, Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers paid a “working visit” to Caracas, where he met with Venezuelan officials, including Venezuela’s Minister of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Felix Plasencia.Sobers subsequently told the Express that Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela had agreed to establish a joint commission aimed at breaking years of diplomatic and technical inertia and advancing cooperation on key issues affecting both countries.He said the technical working team will allow both governments to identify priorities and begin delivering on mutually agreed areas in the interest of their people.Persad-Bissessar yesterday described Sobers’ trip to Venezuela as successful.Asked whether she plans to meet with Rodríguez, the Prime Minister responded: “I will meet with anyone who wishes to meet me for the benefit of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. I will do whatever I have to do always.”Persad-Bissessar also brushed aside the fact that she had been declared “persona non grata” under the former Nicolás Maduro regime, instead emphasising the deep historical and familial connections between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.She pointed to her own family ties to the neighbouring South American country.“Look, you may not know, my mother-in-law is Venezuelan. My two grand-nephews are Venezuelan. Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, we have very, very close ties,” she said.She added: “So whatever has to be done, we will do in the best interest of Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.”‘I love her’ Persad-Bissessar said people could expect “the best” as relations between the two countries move forward.Asked whether she had a message for Rodríguez, Persad-Bissessar expressed her affection for the Venezuelan leader and said she was looking forward to meeting her. “I love her. I look forward to meeting her. In fact, I think we are hoping to meet when we go up to the (United Nations General Assembly).The Prime Minister said plans are being explored for the meeting to take place around September 25.“There is a plan. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll let you know. But that is a plan. Minister Sobers is working on it. If it works out, it happens, if it doesn’t work out, I’ll let you know,” she said.Gas from Venezuela will come Persad-Bissessar was questioned about whether her Government expects Trinidad and Tobago to eventually receive natural gas from Venezuela.She expressed confidence that the long-discussed supply of Venezuelan gas to this country will materialise, pointing to Trinidad and Tobago’s geographical proximity to Venezuela and agreements involving major international energy companies.“I have absolutely no doubt that gas from Venezuela will come to Trinidad and Tobago. It is the only funnel, the only place it can pass. We are seven miles away, and it will come.“We have already signed agreements with bp. We hope to conclude agreements with Shell, XRG, and many other companies. I have absolutely no doubt that in the next year, we will see natural gas coming to Trinidad and Tobago,” she said. The potential importation of Venezuelan natural gas is viewed as significant for Trinidad and Tobago’s energy sector, particularly as the country seeks additional gas supplies to support its downstream petrochemical and liquefied natural gas industries.Persad-Bissessar reiterated that Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela share exceptionally close ties, describing the neighbouring countries as “family”.