Thursday, November 19 2009

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INSPECTION: From left, Port-of-Spain City Corporation database administrator Colin Baldeosingh, City Engineer Chanka David and Chief Executive Officer...

THE TREES at Tamarind Square, Port-of-Spain, have been decorated in time for Christmas and Carnival.

The decorations, made out of netting, look like huge baskets of red and white hanging from the tree branches and there are pinata-type bird figures flowing in the breeze.

Port-of-Spain City Corporation chief executive officer Laraine Alexander told Newsday the decorations on the trees were not part of the corporation’s ongoing beautification project and the concept was not the corporation’s idea either.

She said a contract was awarded by the Mayor’s office and she could not give details of the contract.

“The corporation is responsible for replanting of the trees in the square and the installing of fog lights. Those decorations were awarded to someone through the mayor’s office.”

She said the corporation was dissatisfied with the maintenance of Tamarind Square and decided to undertake the upgrading and beautification works.

Speaking to Newsday, Mayor Murchinson Brown admitted that a contract was given to a contractor to decorate the square.

He said he has not seen the decorations but will visit soon.

Already, there have been some criticisms about the choice of decorations adorning the trees.

One passerby, Joel Fraser said although transformation of the square was a good idea, the decorations were “ugly and gaudy-looking.”