The long-standing corporate relationship between the soca superstar Machel Montano and bmobile was “suspended” earlier this week.
No reason was given for the move although there had been calls for Montano to be dropped as a brand ambassador after he was found guilty on five criminal charges last December.
The surprise move came one day before Montano was scheduled to perform in the company’s pre-Carnival concert series “Soca in b Square” yesterday in Woodford Square, Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Montano, is the defending Groovy and Power Soca Monarch, and is also in the race to retain the Road March title with 2013 hit Float.
In a release yesterday, TSTT, bmobile’s parent company, said it had, “at this time, suspended all existing relationships” with Montano.
The brief statement reiterated TSTT’s commitment to supporting the nation’s culture.
The suspension comes 12 days after a letter from social activist group Fixin’ T&T to TSTT’s board, requesting the company “immediately disassociate” itself with Montano in light of his conviction on four offences of criminal assault and one charge of using obscene language after a fracas outside the Zen nightclub, Port of Spain in April 2007.
Montano was found guilty on December 10 and was scheduled to be sentenced on January 17, but the hearing has been adjourned to February 25.
Another of Montano’s sponsors, Caribbean Airlines Ltd, is yet to release an official statement on their position regarding the artiste.