Third place winners of this year’s Citizens in Service of San Fernando (CISS) annual parang competition Salsa Picante go through their rendition during Sunday’s competition. Photos: Tony Howell

For the second consecutive year, El Fuego Caribeno emerged victorious at the Citizens in Service of San Fernando annual parang competition at San Fernando Hill on Sunday. Dubbed “Parang On De Hill,” the competition saw El Fuego Caribeno walking away with the $30,000 first prize. Refusing to give up their title, the band put on an unbeatable performance, pushing National Parang champions Los Alumnos de San Juan into second place. Los Alumnos de San Juan, who retained the title at Saturday’s National Parang Competition, went home with the second prize of $20,000. Securing third place was Salsa Picante, who walked away with the $15,000 prize.

Despite the late start, the action-packed event was a success. Basking in the colourful and upbeat presentations by 11 bands, hundreds of patrons danced the night away. Leader of the winning band David Winchester said members of his band were overjoyed that they retained their title. “We did not put as much preparation as we ought to, because we were playing out every night. But, we are quite happy,” he said. Winchester said his band did not enter the National Parang Competition because of other commitments. Based in Mootoo Lands, Marabella, he said the band had 11 playing members and two sound engineers.

ABOVE: Members of the parang group El Fuego Caribeno celebrate after winning this year’s Citizens in Service of San Fernando (CISS) annual parang competition held at San Fernando Hill on Sunday.