THE Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO) has dismissed Samantha Richards, a tabulator for the 2025 Road March competition, after she publicly endorsed Machel Montano’s song “Pardy” during Carnival Tuesday festivities.
The decision, announced in a press release early Wednesday, follows backlash over Richards’ remarks in a social media interview that critics claimed compromised the competition’s impartiality.
In the viral Facebook video posted Tuesday afternoon, Richards, tasked with tallying Road March votes, declared Montano’s soca anthem was leading the race.
She said, “Machel is in the lead right now, Bunji Garlin is right behind him,”
Richards said, “This year it’s looking like it will be Machel.”
Her comments sparked immediate controversy, as tabulators are expected to remain neutral until official results are announced.
Bunji Garlin, a rival contender with his track “Carry It,” found support from his wife, soca star Fay Ann Lyons.
Lyons reposted Richards’ interview on Instagram Tuesday evening, followed by her own video statement. “We’ve decided the competition sector is no longer attractive to us,” Lyons said, condemning what she called a lack of integrity in the process. “The people pretending to do things they have to do is very uncomfortable. We ask that the powers that be fix it.”
TUCO swiftly addressed the breach, terminating Richards and reaffirming its commitment to fairness. “All personnel involved in the adjudication process must uphold neutrality,” the organisation stated. “Any actions undermining public trust will not be tolerated.”
The incident has reignited debates over transparency in Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival competitions, with fans divided over whether Richards’ dismissal was justified or an overreaction. Meanwhile, TUCO confirmed final Road March results are still being verified, with Montano and Garlin remaining top contenders.
