The results of the 2026 MATT election have been published. This live post is now closed.

Updated on January 09, 2026 with details of the election procedure and venues on January 10, 2026.

MATT Elections – Saturday, January 10, 2026

The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) advises its members and the wider media fraternity that all arrangements are in place for the hosting of its Special General Meeting (SGM) and Executive Elections on Saturday, January 10, 2026.

The Special General Meeting will be held simultaneously at the following locations:

  • National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS), Port of Spain, First Floor Seminar Room
  • COSTAATT Campus, San Fernando, in Classroom no 6 (2nd Floor
  • Radio Tambrin (Newsroom) in Tobago.
  • The meeting will be convened promptly at 10 am

The venues will be linked live via WhatsApp chat to allow all members in attendance to be able to contribute to the meeting in progress.

Registration will take place from 10 am–10.45 am. During this period, members will:

  • Register their attendance
  • Pay their membership dues of $75 (members are urged to bring exact change)
  • Submit nomination forms, should they wish to do so
    NB. Members who fail to register by 10.45 am. will not be eligible to vote.

Members are reminded that nominations will be accepted on the morning of the meeting up to 10.45 am sharp.
No nominations will be accepted after 10.45 am.
Voting will commence promptly at 11 am and close at 11.45 am.

During the meeting, members will also receive an update on the financial position of the Association from the Interim Treasurer.

MATT encourages all eligible members to arrive on time to facilitate the smooth and orderly conduct of the meeting and election process.

MATT SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

January 10, 2026

AGENDA
10– Registration and distribution of ballots
10.45 – Close of registration/Welcome remarks – Wesley Gibbings, chair (5 mins)
10.50 – Statement by Interim President – Dale Enoch (5 mins)
10.55 – Report by Interim Treasurer – Mark Lyndersay (5 mins)
11.00 – Commencement of Elections – Nominations, Announcement of Eligible Electors – Wesley Gibbings/Paul Charles (Returning Officer) (10 minutes)
11.50 – Close of Voting
12.20 – Announcement of Election Results – Wesley Gibbings
12.30 – Remarks by newly-elected President

 

On December 29, 2025, a meeting was convened by the Election Oversight Committee, Paul Charles, Soyini Grey and Nicole Duke-Westfield and members of the interim executive of MATT, Dale Enoch, president, Gregory McBurnie, secretary and Mark Lyndersay, treasurer.

Mr Charles can be reached by email to answer any questions you may have for the Election Oversight Committee.

The mechanics of the election were discussed and the team remains committed to having a live election at Nalis in Port of Spain and at venues being sought in Tobago and San Fernando.

At baseline, a continuous connection between the venues via WhatsApp on speakerphone is being considered, though a Zoom call linking the venues would be best.

Anyone with the technical expertise to facilitate that would be welcomed by the election team.

Three nomination forms, each listing a proposed slate of candidates has been received by the MATT Election Oversight Committee and have been accepted in a spirit of inclusion and engagement with the membership’s wish to serve on the executive.

Nominee form received on December 29, 2025…

  • President – Wayne Cunningham
  • Vice President – Gregory McBurnie
  • Secretary – Nicole Dookie
  • Asst Secretary- Gyasi Gonzales
  • Treasurer – Melissa Stanisclaus
  • Floor Member – Joey Bartlett

Nomination form received on December 31, 2025…

  • President – Prior Beharry
  • Vice-president – Kejan Haynes
  • Secretary – Phillip Matheson
  • Assistant secretary – Shivanni Lal
  • Treasurer – Vindhar Suraj
  • Floor members – Jermaine Cruickshank and Yvonne Webb

Nomination form received on January 06, 2026…

  • President – Ian Wason
  • Vice-president – Kyle Saunders
  • Secretary – Ryan Hamilton-Davis
  • Treasurer – Rochelle Edwards

While the deadline has passed for the submission of forms,  nominations of any working journalist for any position will be considered, right up to the commencement of voting on January 10, 2026.

Nominees or journalists offering themselves for service on the executive should be financial members of the executive when voting for positions on the executive begins.

The election committee has agreed that the standard fee of $75 will be the only requirement from known, working journalists to be considered as candidates and to vote in the election.

A senior journalist will be asked to oversee the election process at each venue, collecting the payment of membership fees and managing the voting process.

These presiding officers will not vote. Mark Lyndersay and Nicole Duke-Westfield will manage the election in Port of Spain. Senior journalists are being approached to manage the election at other venues.

Update: January 05, 2026

In response to concerns about process and procedure for the upcoming election, the MATT Election Oversight Committee issued the following statement.

We appreciate your interest in the process and your evident commitment to ensuring that the upcoming Special General Meeting and elections are conducted in a manner that serves the best interests of the Association.

After careful consideration, the Committee offers the following response to the matters raised:

  1. Financial Membership Status
    At present, MATT has no financial members. This is an important contextual reality that necessarily affects the administration of nominations, eligibility, and voting. The Committee has therefore sought to interpret and apply the Constitution and established practice in a way that avoids the unintended exclusion of members under circumstances beyond their control. In this context, the Election Oversight Committee has agreed that the standard fee of $75 will be the sole requirement for known, working journalists to be considered as candidates, and to vote in the election. As MATT does not currently have access to its bank accounts, all working journalists (media workers) will be required to make payment upon entry to the Special General Meeting.
  2. Inaccessibility of MATT Bank Accounts
    MATT currently does not have access to either of its two bank accounts. This has made it impractical for members or prospective nominees to pay fees and regularise their financial status ahead of the Special General Meeting.
    In light of this constraint, the Committee has sought to facilitate participation while remaining mindful of constitutional requirements and fairness to all members.
  3. Nomination Deadlines and Established Practice
    The Election Oversight Committee initially set a deadline for the submission of nomination forms prior to being advised that, in previous MATT elections, candidates have been nominated from the floor on the day of the General Meeting.
    Given this established precedent, it was agreed that the Committee should adhere to existing practice. The Committee does not have the authority to alter long-standing electoral practice, particularly where such practice has been applied consistently in prior elections.
  4. Eligibility and Executive Screening
    The MATT Constitution is silent on any requirement for nominees to be screened, vetted, or approved by the Executive or any other body. There is therefore no constitutional basis for imposing such a requirement.
    Accordingly, any financial member is eligible to run for any position within the Association, and the Committee will not introduce conditions that are not expressly provided for in the Constitution.
  5. Election Timing and Tobago-Based Journalists
    The timing of the election, particularly its proximity to the Tobago House of Assembly elections, was identified early as a potential risk. In response, Interim President Dale Enoch conferred directly with media practitioners based in Tobago, who indicated that the proposed date would not present a difficulty.
    On the basis of those assurances, it was agreed that the election would proceed on January 10, 2026, which was also identified as the earliest practical date in the new year.

The Committee remains committed to conducting an election that is fair, inclusive, transparent, and consistent with both the Constitution and established MATT practice, while recognising the operational challenges currently confronting the Association.