Soca stars Fay-Ann Lyons and Ian Alvarez, also known as Bunji Garlin, have questioned the adjudication process for the 2025 Road March competition, following an online video of a tabulator who claimed to have preliminary information that Machel Montano’s “Pardy” was in the lead on Carnival Tuesday.
In an Instagram post Tuesday night, Lyons said they will be stepping away from competitions for the foreseeable future.
“In light of what we have just seen on Beyonce and Elon Musk’s internet, we have decided that the competition sector is no longer something that’s attractive to us.
“The integrity, the way things are being done, the people they are putting to do the things that they have to do is very uncomfortable and unsettling to us.
“So in light of that, we have decided to step away, and we hope that you all do better, because ya’ll have younger artists coming up and if you all really care about culture, then the manner in which you present the culture moving forward should be of the utmost importance.”
“Discipline is a big part of it, as well as transparency, honesty and most of all integrity which seems to be in a deficit right now.”
She also thanked fans who supported their music and said asked that the “powers that be, fix it”.
Lyons re-shared the interview which was taken on Tuesday by CNC3/Trinidad Guardian, with several question marks, saying in all her years of taking part in the competition she had never heard of judges discussing results prematurely.
“Are these JUDGES?? …….If soooo Ok …… what level of madness is this?? I’ve been around this competition for yearsssssss … never have I heard or seen judges discussing results prematurely! And to further state you’re getting info from other places and putting it in the public domain before a proper audit or tally is done is the level of “off” that makes you wonder if we really in a simulation. You telling me Alyuh on Elon musk internet like we can’t see Alyuh giving opinions and insights to results …. And you expect US to trust the process!!! Look Alyuh make sense nah!!! Ashton Kutcher yuh could jump out now …. This have to be a prank!”
The tabulator claimed that Montano’s “Pardy” was in the lead.
According to some media reports, the tabulator who was interviewed was relieved of her duties by TUCO (Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation).
According to the statement shared via social media, TUCO has “relieved the tabulator in question of her official duties”.
The group also sought to reassure the public that the results of the Road March competition are based purely on statistics, that is, the number of times a song is played when bands cross the stage at various judging points.
“The opinion expressed by that particular tabulator is irrelevant to the results of the competition which are yet to be tabulated.”
TUCO said it upholds the standards of the Road March competition and said the comments made by the tabulator were “not at all indicative of the results of the Road March competition and were entirely unauthorised and not in accordance with TUCO’s criteria and standards.”
TUCO said the integrity of the Road March competition is sancrosanct and remains intact.
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