My name is Sonya Singh and I sell homemade sweeties.
I’m from Maracas Bay. But I don’t sell shark-and-bake. There’s too many people selling shark-and-bake. I rather come in town and sell fudge.
I grew up in Maracas Bay and know all the families. It’s a small community. It’s very peaceful, with no crime. A neighbour might quarrel with you but they not going to rob you.
I’m the first child. I have two sisters, no brothers. I don’t have a family yet but it’s on its way. My husband is Richie Seelal. And we have a child coming. We’re going to find out the gender when we have an ultrasound. We want to be prepared whether it’s a boy or a girl. But I only have a boy name in mind: Richie Vance Seelal.
I went to Maracas RC Primary School then I attended Tranquility Secondary. A long ride every morning. It had a school bus, but it left too early, so I travelled. Every day, on my own. I think I was five years old when I started primary school. So I was independent from young. I wasn’t frightened.
I met my husband Richie at my mum’s preserve stall on the Maracas Lookout. He’s from Cunupia. We live Maracas Bay. It’s a real change to come from Maracas every weekday and breathe the toxic town air.
We reach home about half-six every evening. We drive. It makes it a lot easier. Except for the traffic through Maraval.
I’m from Maracas, the most popular beach in Trinidad, but I can’t swim. Richie come from Cunupia and he could swim better than me. He’s trying to teach me. But he not getting too far.
I grew up in the preserve and sweet business. My mom taught me to make the sugarcake, the fudge, the tamarind balls, pawpaw balls. And the chow! But I don’t like sweets myself.
Once I went J’Ouvet but it wasn’t my thing and I don’t take part in Carnival. Too much wildness. All those boys trying to grab you!
I’m not a church girl but my mom taught me to be respectful. So I respect myself.
I went to the Roman Catholic school but I’m actually Hindu. But I’ve never been to temple.
When all of Trinidad heads up to Maracas on a Sunday, Maracas people don’t resent it at all. It’s nice for business. And I don’t have to deal with any crowds or any drunk people because I stay home on a Sunday. I live at Maracas Bay but I will go to the beach once, maybe twice, for the year.
Richie and I work together. We get up at half-five every morning, sometimes earlier, go to the market, and reach to the store in town minutes to seven. And we open when we reach. We get the perishables fresh from the market every morning.
We get a lot of crazies. We right on the street and they walk right up to the counter. I do feel unsafe if Richie is not here but I try not to make eye contact with people that look like they might trouble me. I just keep quiet.
I make the preserves and sweets every weekend, enough to last for the week. It’s real satisfying to make food for people, even sweets.
The best part of the job is the independence of it. I like working for myself. Not for other people. The worst part is having to deal with troublesome customers. Which we get.
A Trini is a person who likes to gossip. A lot. And they like to party. Hard.
Trinidad & Tobago means a lot to me. We have such a beautiful country. It so tropical, sunny – sometimes rainy – it’s just so peaceful and nice. Despite all the crime that we have.
• Read a longer version of this feature at www.BCRaw.com