Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago
Status Update, January 2025

Dear colleagues,

The interim executive of the Media Association wishes you and yours the very best in the new year.

As interim president I think it is time to update you on where we are regarding fixing the challenges faced by previous executives and the current interim executive.

Since accepting the responsibility to prepare the membership for an election just over a year ago, this interim executive has sought to pick up where the last administration left off, in terms of getting MATT’s status legalised and its status upgraded, so that there is legitimacy and access to funds.

According to interim treasurer Mark Lyndersay, at this point, MATT is working to complete discussions with the Unit Trust, one of the institutions with which its funds have been lodged.

The previous administration and this interim administration have operated without access to either the funds lodged with First Citizens Bank or those at the Unit Trust, because 2019 legislation requires the association to function as an NGO with all attendant authorisation.

Fortunately that process has been largely completed, but there are still some fine points that must be dealt with before the association has access to its funds.

The interim executive is seeking to complete access requirements with the Unit Trust in order to settle outstanding invoices related to the process of being registered as a non-profit organisation, as well as IOUs to members of the executive of 2020 which were incurred to finance activities such as two Christmas parties and other incidentals during their term in office.

It is our intention to hold elections within this quarter, with or without the completion of the settling of the financial issues.

However, we do insist on access to funds so as to allow the incoming executive to begin initiatives that could improve the functioning of MATT.

Weeks after assuming office, the interim executive embarked on visits to media houses throughout Trinidad and Tobago. This allowed us to talk and listen to our colleagues in their own spaces. It was a fantastic undertaking and it showed there is interest in ensuring the survival of the association and its mandate.

In order to move forward and ensure the protection of the fourth estate, MATT must live and its professionals need to commit to its vibrancy by getting involved.

As interim president I thank you for your interest, and I welcome the contributions of the members of the interim executive