MATT’s Participation in ACM’s 11th Biennial General Assembly in Guyana

MATT, as a proud member of the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM), was honored to receive an invitation to Guyana for the 11th Biennial General Assembly, held on March 12th, 2023.

This gathering served as a testament to our dedication to the advancement of journalism in the Caribbean. Vice-President Kandace Jackson was selected by our executive committee to represent MATT at this distinguished assembly.

The General Assembly coincided with the Energy Journalism Summit, orchestrated by the Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC).

Held at the historic Cara Lodge Hotel in Georgetown, Guyana, this summit was facilitated from March 11th to March 12th, 2023.

It brought together journalists from Guyana and representatives of press associations from around the Caribbean for two days of engaging discussions and invaluable networking opportunities.

Importantly, it marked the first physical interaction among Caribbean journalists since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights from the General Assembly

During the General Assembly, a new executive committee for ACM was elected. Jackson successfully nominated CNC3’s Soyini Grey as the Assistant General Secretary. The newly elected executive members are as follows:

– President: Mr. Harvey Panka of Suriname
– Vice President (Finance): Ms. Nazima Raghubir of Guyana
– 2nd Vice President: Mr. Milton Walker of Jamaica
– General Secretary: Mr. Denis Chabrol of Guyana
– Assistant General Secretary: Ms. Soyini Grey of Trinidad and Tobago
– Floor Member: Ms. Myriam Malmin of Martinique
– Floor Member: Mr. Andre Huie of St Kitts and Nevis

The General Assembly was a forum for participating countries to present reports on the state of the press within their respective jurisdictions.

Two resolutions were tabled, with one referred to a Special Meeting of the ACM and the other approved to expand geographical representation.

ACM’s unwavering commitment to addressing issues of press freedom, fostering professional development in the media industry, and enhancing its collaboration with international freedom of expression organizations was evident throughout the event.

Kandace Jackson, right, at the assembly.

Moreover, ACM expressed its intent to strengthen its partnership with the Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC).

This collaboration aims to deliver comprehensive training programs and offer diverse opportunities for journalists throughout the Caribbean, fostering their growth and excellence.

In addition to the substantive discussions, ACM took a moment to recognize and honor three distinguished journalists who have made significant contributions to the development of journalism in the Caribbean:

– Bert Wilkinson, Founding Member of ACM from Guyana
– Peter Richards, Founding Vice-President of ACM from Saint Lucia
– Kiran Maharaj, President of MIC from Trinidad and Tobago

We extend our sincere appreciation to the Guyana Press Association, under the leadership of Nazima Mohammed, and the outgoing ACM executive for their invaluable support in facilitating the participation of our MATT representative and other journalists from across the Caribbean.