A Short Trip to Trinidad Reminded Me Why Good Service Still Matters
- Jeronnie Richardson (MBA)
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
From Monday 22 June to Saturday 27 June, I spent a few days in Trinidad. I will leave out the personal details and the purpose of the trip, but I will say this: Trinidad reminded me again how much culture, service, and good human connection still matter.
Sometimes, when you are moving from task to task, it is easy to forget that some of the best business lessons do not come from a meeting room. They come from the way people treat you, the way a place makes you feel, and the small experiences that stay with you after you leave.
I travelled as Jeronnie, but JSR is within me. It is part of how I see service, people, culture, business, and storytelling. So even on a short trip, I still found myself noticing the things that make brands and people memorable.
And boy… the food.
The good, good food helped too.
I am not even going to pretend. Trinidad fed me well. Gyro, doubles, pholourie, tandoori — every stop had its own flavour, its own smell, its own little “yes, this is why people talk about Trini food so.”
But Tandoor at East Gate, Port of Spain?
That one had me quiet for a minute.
I had naan, butter chicken, chickpeas, and vegetables, and listen… “delicious” does not cover it. That food was proper good. The kind of good where you take the first bite and immediately know somebody in that kitchen understands seasoning, timing, and care.
The naan was soft, the butter chicken was rich, the chickpeas had flavour, and the whole plate just worked. Nothing felt lazy. Nothing tasted rushed. It was the kind of meal that makes you slow down, even if your day is busy.
And the service matched the food.
Alexi and Shian served like every meal mattered. Not fake nice. Not forced nice. Just proper customer service — attentive, pleasant, and present.
I also had the chance to meet and speak with the manager, who is pictured with Alexi and Shian. I cannot remember her name, and I will not pretend I do, but I remember her attitude. Much like Alexi and Shian, she was real, warm, and pleasant. Professional without being stiff. Friendly without forcing it.
That is not something you can fake for long.
A good meal gets people through the door. Good service makes them want to talk about it after. Tandoor had both.
So yes, I would recommend Tandoor to anyone visiting Trinidad. I visited the East Gate location in Port of Spain, and I believe they have several other locations as well. If the others carry the same food and service standard, then they are doing something right.
Of course, I also enjoyed the wider Trinidad experience. Driving on the highway with that dreamy 100 km/h speed limit felt good. I am from SVG, so let me enjoy the little things. The energy, the movement, the food, the people — it all had its own rhythm.
Another important part of the trip was meeting Keron “Furnace” Thomas.
Furnace was actually the one who took me to East Gate, so yes, I may have him partly to blame for the Tandoor experience… and chilling with such a large artiste over good food made it even more memorable.
As a gospel artiste, he could have treated the whole thing like just another media request. He did not. He was willing to meet, do an interview for an upcoming show, and even record a rep drop for JSR Communications.
That stood out to me.
He was open, easy to work with, and carried the kind of energy that makes content feel natural instead of forced. And none of it felt staged. The energy and vibes just flowed. We vibed, sang a couple songs, laughed, talked, and the moment became what it needed to be naturally.
You can tell music is really in him. He does a lot of collaborations, and he has that freestyle kind of gift too. So yes, look up Keron “Furnace” Thomas and listen to his music. Not just because he is talented, but because there is a realness in how he carries himself. In gospel music especially, that matters.
For JSR, moments like that matter too. We are not only interested in clean edits, polished interviews, and finished videos. Those things are important, yes. But behind every good production is trust. People have to feel comfortable enough to speak, sing, laugh, tell their story, and show up as themselves.
Furnace made that easy.
This short trip reminded me that business is not only built through big announcements and major campaigns. Sometimes it is built through a meal served well, a conversation handled with respect, a highway drive that clears your mind, or an artiste willing to show up and support the work.
The trip even gave me one final reminder on the flight back home.
I sat next to Nikala Williams-Rodgers, someone I have seen as a role model and business inspiration for some time. From recognition to landing, we spoke, and honestly, it was one of those conversations that stayed with me.
She is a truly inspirational woman.
She serves as a Regional Marketing Manager with Flow, but what mattered most in that moment was not the title. It was the wisdom, the presence, and the reminder that the Caribbean has people doing serious work, carrying influence, and still making space for meaningful conversation.
That felt like a fitting close to the trip.
Good food. Good people. Good conversations. A little highway freedom. A memorable link-up with Furnace. A strong reminder about service. And one final conversation on the flight home that reminded me again why people, stories, and connections matter.
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