For 21 years the home of South businessman Wayne Ali has been a place of happiness and joy for children at Christmas.
Even at the height of the pandemic he continues to leave his doors open to the public to visit his home at Herrera Street, St Joseph Village, San Fernando, which he has lit up and decorated to mimic Santa Claus’ house.
His home does not only attract people from all over the country, but also tourists visiting for Christmas.
In an interview with Guardian Media, Ali said, “We have 85 feet tall with over 18,000 lights. We have snow machine, Santa in his sleigh with reindeers. It is a wonderland for children and every night when people come here they are in awe. They can’t believe. You see children jumping up and laughing. This is what Christmas is about.”
He said his love for Christmas and children started over three decades ago.
“I planted that big Christmas tree 35 years ago when I went there to live. My story goes back to 1982 when I started sharing toys for four villages in Central as the secret Santa. I was the secret Santa from 1982 until 2017. I use to share toys for children and they always wanted to know who it was. I really always said I am Santa Claus and my home must look like Santa lives here. So that’s why I call it Santa’s Wonderland.”
While he has seen a reduction in the crowds visiting his house, he said there are still a lot of people coming to his home. He said sometimes late in the night he would hear his doorbell ringing.
“Sometimes we have to stop people because we have to sanitise and take temperature checks. My yard is big so there is not too much clusters.”
Noting the pandemic is really affecting children, Ali’s wish for the New Year is that the country, by extension the world, would return to some level of normalcy.
“Children could go back to school and play with their friends and the world can go back as it was.”
However, he said everyone who live to see 2022 must be thankful as many people have lost their lives to COVID-19.
