Tropical Storm Bret Hits Trinidad & Tobago — and Twitter · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Bad weather in Trinidad and Tobago in 2007. Photo by Georgia Popplewell, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Tropical Storm Bret has its sights set on Trinidad and Tobago — a rare occurrence, considering that the twin island republic lies just below the hurricane belt and is usually spared the wrath of foul weather come the annual Atlantic hurricane season.
Quite apart from Isidore in 2002, which didn't have much of an effect on the two islands, the last time a tropical storm came close to this neck of the woods was 1993. It was also named Bret, but passed stealthily between Trinidad and Tobago causing slight flooding and power outages; Venezuela, however, suffered great damage and loss of life.
Given the sense of deja vu, you'd think Trinbagonians would be keen to take the storm seriously — the meteorological service and Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management have issued several advisories to this effect — and perhaps most people are. But they wouldn't be “Trinis” if they didn't put their brand of humour on the whole experience, which is where Twitter comes in.
On the eve of the storm, three hilarious new Twitter accounts appeared: @StormBret, @GalvanizeRoof and @God868 — the last of which, using the islands’ area code, is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the nationwide notion that “God is a Trini”, ergo no harm can befall the country.
@StormBret took issue with this cavalier attitude early on, tweeting:
Everything iza kix ting with alyuh, meen no jokey man eno
— Tropical Storm Bret (@StormBret) June 19, 2017
Everything is a joke for you all, I'm no comedian you know
Full of pluck and bravado, @StormBret promised to hit Trinidad and Tobago hard:
Trinis: Dah storm go pass we straight@StormBret – pic.twitter.com/Sl3j5RhhbF
— Raisa? (@Whipped_Cream__) June 19, 2017
This, some netizens felt, would be a necessary wake-up call:
Bring ting na man. This country need washing. https://t.co/VxPgtsrYKs
— Boosta ???? (@Boosta14) June 19, 2017
When one Twitter user challenged him, @StormBret replied:
Ago hear bout u ? https://t.co/TkVcXjmPf1
— Tropical Storm Bret (@StormBret) June 19, 2017
I will hear about you
Others decided it was best to sweet talk the storm into sparing things that were important to them:
Yo @StormBret, can you leave some zabocca on my tree please?
— Odie (@insanely_gift3d) June 19, 2017
To which he replied:
Sen some fuh meh and wego organize https://t.co/EfkZ7ehjsj
— Tropical Storm Bret (@StormBret) June 19, 2017
Another Twitter user quipped:
You know it serious when @StormBret close KFC early
— supa selectuh (@sups2504) June 19, 2017
While some were thanking the storm for an additional day off work after a long weekend, others were suggesting that “If anybody gives birth to a son 9 months from now then by rights u have to name him Bret!!”. @StormBret replied:
It go be ah honour https://t.co/tBvMGGbNRw
— Tropical Storm Bret (@StormBret) June 19, 2017
Naturally, politics had to come into play. When one Twitter user quoted the prime minister:
Eh @StormBret Rowley say you not properly organized…
— Brenthousian (@brenthousian) June 19, 2017
@StormBret shot back:
He of all people shouldn't be talkin. https://t.co/I0LQ8TjCDX
— Tropical Storm Bret (@StormBret) June 19, 2017
Meanwhile, @StormBret and @GalvanizeRoof got into a bit of an altercation, as storms and roofs are wont to do:
@StormBret …yawn…
— Galvanize Roof (@GalvanizeRoof) June 19, 2017
Cute. https://t.co/vLDzNDRRY3
— Tropical Storm Bret (@StormBret) June 19, 2017
Uze d storm equivalent to a man in a romper…go so
— Galvanize Roof (@GalvanizeRoof) June 19, 2017
The more devotional Twitter users advised:
The prayer chain messages coming in@StormBret cool it now nah
— Raisa? (@Whipped_Cream__) June 19, 2017
@StormBret dismissed the plea, saying:
Who they praying to now? Ik god ain no trini https://t.co/tBakFOuQKA
— Tropical Storm Bret (@StormBret) June 20, 2017
Trini or not, @God868 was not impressed. Referring to a recent incident that caused widespread outrage, in which Roman Catholic priest Fr. Clyde Harvey was tied up and robbed at gunpoint in a church, the almighty tweeted:
And allya wanna rob priest?
Take storm in allya Mc! ⛈
— GOD (@GOD868) June 19, 2017
Or, put another way:
@StormBret @GOD868 ??? yuh see pic.twitter.com/pDexFBn65q
— Loading…? (@21stFandoms) June 20, 2017
Finally, @StormBret answered the question that was on every Trinbagonian's mind:
Why Trinidad tho and why you taking so long man ? @StormBret
— Ari … (@ari_sookdeo) June 20, 2017
Alyuh overdue https://t.co/gCPgxWTJPa
— Tropical Storm Bret (@StormBret) June 20, 2017