[UPDATED] New MATT head: Trying times for media body

The outgoing executive of the Media Association of TT had some very trying times, said newly appointed president Dr Sheila Rampersad as she thanked them thanked in her acceptance speech yesterday.

Rampersad said with previous executives collapsing before their tenure ended, she was grateful for their dedication.

The outgoing executive comprised Vernon Ramesar (president), Joel Julien (vice president), Vindhar Suraj (treasurer), Vishala Ganesh (secretary), Clydeen Mc Donald (assistant secretary) and floor members Julien Neaves and Patricia Nicholson.

MATT held its elections at the TSTT Booth, Queen’s Park Oval, yesterday morning
Rampersad spoke after the elections for two floor members, as the other posts went unopposed. The new executive members are: Rampersad, Lasana Liburd (vice president), Francesca Hawkins (secretary) and Marie Hull (assistant secretary). Suraj remains as treasurer and floor members are Akash Samaroo and Jensen La Vende.

Rampersad said the new executive would look at organisational and institutional strengthening along with continuing to update the constitution. Externally, the association will look to address the whistleblowing legislation and the Cyber Crime Bill and to get more acquainted with the Non-Profit Organisation Bill.

Rampsersad said one of her immediate aims will also be to have a representative for Tobago in the executive.

Asked about the impasse between the media and Police Commissioner Gary Griffith, Rampersad said it will be monitored and given that it was addressed by outgoing acting president Joel Julien, she did not want to add to that.

Julien, in his exit speech, said running MATT, like journalism, is a thankless job but he appreciated all those who had worked alongside him for the past two years and those who had paved the way. He implored those critical of the media to take the stance of TSTT, which, despite having negative reports written about it, never became vindictive towards the media and allowed free use of its facilities whenever needed.

Julien also called on fellow journalists to rally to the cause.

“The only thing that will make MATT strong is the buy-in from the media. I believe these are trying times. We have a police commissioner who has shown that he is willing to take a stance against the media, publicly even name-call journalists and put media houses on blast because of things that are written opposed to his view,” he warned.

Rampersad stressed, “MATT, essentially, is about the protection of press freedom and advocacy for freedom of expression more generally, under which freedom of the press comes. So freedom of expression for all people, sectors, and organisations remain an important focus for MATT, and we will continue to guard it in whatever way we feel necessary,”

Rampersad added that the personality of media practitioners in the country has generally been one of independence, and as a result of this MATT has suffered since its birth from a lack of “buy-in,” but this was not necessarily a terrible thing. There are ways to mobilise the media outside of an organisational structure, she said, as the media community is a very vocal community.

She added: “The challenge really is trying to find a way to channel that engagement to the benefit of MATT.

“ It is not a case that the members of MATT are not engaged in issues or each other, I think it is how we channel that engagement with each other to the organisation, and that is something we will look at as an executive, and future executives will continue to look at.”

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

The outgoing executive of the Media Association of TT had some very trying times, said newly appointed president Dr Sheila Rampersad as she thanked them in her aceptance speech yesterday.

Rampersad said with previous executives collapsing before their tenure ended, she was grateful for their dedication.

The outgoing executive comprised Vernon Ramesar (president), Joel Julien (vice president), Vindhar Suraj (treasurer), Vishala Ganesh (secretary), Clydeen Mc Donald (assistant secretary) and floor members Julien Neaves and Patricia Nicholson.

MATT held its elections at the TSTT Booth, Queen's Park Oval, this morning

Rampersad spoke after the elections for two floor members, as the other posts went unopposed. The new executive members are: Rampersad, Lasana Liburd (vice president), Francesca Hawkins (secretary) and Marie Hull (assistant secretary). Suraj remains as treasurer and floor members are Akash Samaroo and Jensen La Vende.

Rampersad said the new executive would look at organisational and institutional strengthening along with continuing to update the constitution. Externally, the association will look to address the whistle-blower legislation and the Cyber Crime Bill and to get more acquainted with the Non-Profit Organisation Bill.

Rampsersad said one of her immediate aims will also be to have a representative for Tobago in the executive.

Ask about the impasse between the media and Police Commissioner Gary Griffith, Rampersad said it will be monitored and given that it was addressed by outgoing acting president Joel Julien, she did not want to add to that.