“We parang d wrong house.” That was the theme of the new décor piece that was put up Wednesday night in the atrium of the Piarco International Airport.
The Airports Authority rushed Wednesday night to replace the winter wonderland display in the atrium. They had come under fire by people on social media who thought the décor piece was not reflective of T&T’s culture.
Now parang is in full swing at the airport as there are paranderos, clad in T&T national flag shirts, singing on the sand outside two huts among coconuts and poinsettia.
The T&T Guardian asked a number of people who stopped to pose in front of the display what they thought.
Emily Lewis, visiting from London, thought it was a “lovely idea.”
Though Lewis initially asked what parang was, she then said: “It looks like they are having a lot of fun. I can’t wait to see it in real life.”
Kareem Mohammed, of Diego Martin, said he was happy to see something that looks more like his home.
“You know, when I saw the first one on Facebook, I could not believe these people. I don’t understand how they could think snow in the tropics was a good idea. I’m glad they had the good sense to change it,” he said.
However, some people appeared to be apathetic on the décor piece.
James Williams from San Fernando said: “I don’t know what the big fuss is about. It’s Christmas. There is snow somewhere in the world. It really does not matter.”
T&T Guardian attempted to contact Zola Joseph, corporate communications officer for the Airports Authority, but calls to her mobile phone went unanswered.