The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) is calling on Parliament to strengthen protections for journalists, confidential sources and media equipment under the Special Operations Bill, 2026. In a press release dated September 18, MATT said it supports lawful measures aimed at reducing crime and improving public safety but has concerns about the wording of Clause 15, particularly sub-clauses (3) and (4), and the potential implications for freedom of the press. MATT said Clause 15(3) gives law enforcement officers authority to seize a vehicle, article or document considered likely to be of substantial value to an investigation. The association noted that Clause 15(4) restricts police from seizing a “tool of a lawful trade or business” or material protected by legal professional privilege. However, MATT argues that the Bill does not expressly identify journalism as a protected lawful trade and does not specifically protect journalists’ devices, working materials or confidential source information. The association said this is particularly important because journalists routinely carry phones, laptops, notebooks, cameras and recording equipment that may contain sensitive information capable of identifying confidential sources. MATT also raised concerns about the absence of a specific procedure governing police access to confidential journalistic material if such information is encountered during a search. The organisation referred to the High Court case involving One Caribbean Media Group Ltd and the Attorney General, arguing that the protection of journalistic sources has already been recognised by the courts as an important component of press freedom. MATT is asking Parliament to make two amendments. Firstly, it wants Clause 15(4) to expressly identify journalism as a protected lawful trade and provide specific protection for journalists’ devices, materials and confidential source information. Secondly, the association wants a legal framework establishing how law enforcement authorities must deal with confidential journalistic material discovered during a search, including High Court oversight. MATT said it remains prepared to support constitutional measures designed to combat crime but maintains that efforts to improve national security should not come at the expense of a free press. The Special Operations Bill, 2026, is being debated in the House of Representatives.
