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“[…] His death is a profound loss not only to his family but also to the profession he elevated and the region he served so passionately.
“[…] Jones P Madeira’s career was a masterclass in the power of journalism as the fourth estate and a vital pillar of democracy…”
The following press statement on the passing of veteran journalist and media professional Jones P Madeira was issued by the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT):
The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) mourns the passing of Jones P Madeira, a key figure in Caribbean journalism, who died on Friday 10 January 2025, aged 80, at the Mount Hope Medical Complex.
Madeira, known affectionately as ‘Jones P’ to his colleagues and peers, had a career that spanned six decades and transformed the media landscape of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.
In announcing his death, his family shared that his final days were spent surrounded by his wife of 53 years, Melba, and his children Melanie, Lorilee, and Justin, who cared for him with the same devotion he had always shown to them.
Madeira was born in 1944 in Arima, and his early years were marked by modest means and constant movement.
“We packed our bags and moved every six to eight months,” he told Sunday Newsday in 2020, reflecting on his mother’s fierce independence and integrity—values he absorbed and reflected in his work.
The multicultural neighbourhoods of mid-century Arima gave him a nuanced understanding of the region’s social fabric, which would later inform his journalism.
Madeira began his career in the early 1960s as a court reporter at the Trinidad Guardian. By the mid-1960s, he was stationed at Piarco International Airport, interviewing regional leaders and global dignitaries.
This role sharpened his journalistic skills and introduced him to the complexities of Caribbean geopolitics.
(via Newsday)
In the late 1960s, he turned to broadcasting at NBS Radio 610, where his gift for working in electronic media was immediately apparent.
I first encountered Jones P in the mid-1960s when he was a stringer as ‘airport correspondent’ for the Guardian. And since I was a news editor at Radio Guardian, I was able to call and ask Jones to file us stories […] which he did, efficiently, enthusiastically, and pleasantly.
Our respective careers proceeded thereafter, crisscrossing and interconnecting in various ways personally and professionally enriching—Jones migrating to spheres in newspaper and tv media, and public relations/ corporate communications […] in all such places distinguishing himself at levels worthy of emulation.
For me, most of all he remained a friend, a colleague who provided me temporary couch accommodation in London at the start of my training at the BBC in 1971, a consummate gentleman in all of his activities that I knew about, and an ultra-committed family man who loved his cherished wife Melba and his generations of offspring.
Jones deserves our highest accolades for his contributions in this life, and a restful journey through the next life—the famous ‘P’ in his name now ought to stand for Peace.
- Alfred Aguiton
A fellowship at the BBC Caribbean Service in London in the early 1970s honed his craft and exposed him to global journalism, broadening his vision for the role of media in the Caribbean.
In 1981, Madeira was appointed the first full-time secretary-general of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU).
During his tenure, he led pioneering initiatives such as CaribVision and CaribScope, which connected English-speaking Caribbean audiences through shared programming on news, culture and current affairs.
(via Newsday)
“We were building something bigger than nations–a shared Caribbean identity,” Madeira reflected on these efforts.
His contributions to regional media were recognised with his induction into the CBU Caribbean Media Hall of Fame in 2000.
Returning to TT, Madeira assumed the role of head of news and current affairs at Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT) in the 1980s.
Under his leadership, the station expanded its coverage of political, cultural and economic issues, establishing itself as a critical platform for national dialogue.
His work came under the spotlight during the July 1990 coup attempt by the Jamaat al Muslimeen. Taken hostage at gunpoint, Madeira displayed remarkable composure, announcing the coup on live television while also mediating between insurgents and the TT Defence Force.
His calm and pragmatic actions helped prevent bloodshed.
“In moments of chaos, words become lifelines,” he later remarked about the experience.
For his role, Madeira was awarded the Chaconia Medal (Gold), the nation’s second-highest honour.
In 1995, Madeira made headlines again when he resigned as editor-in-chief of the Trinidad Guardian in protest against government interference, underscoring his commitment to press freedom. He later became a founding member of the Independent.
From 2014, he served as editor-in-chief of Newsday, where he mentored younger journalists.
Beyond journalism, Madeira applied his communication skills to public health as an information adviser at the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), leading campaigns on HIV/ AIDS prevention.
He also served as communications manager for the Judiciary and the Ministry of Health, excelling in roles that required him to simplify complex issues for public understanding.
Reflecting on his life’s work, Madeira once said: “I didn’t set out to be extraordinary. I just wanted to tell the truth and help people make sense of their world.”
Jones P Madeira is survived by his wife Melba and their children Melanie, Lorilee, and Justin. His death is a profound loss not only to his family but also to the profession he elevated and the region he served so passionately.
MATT extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends and many colleagues.
Jones P Madeira’s career was a masterclass in the power of journalism as the fourth estate and a vital pillar of democracy.
His legacy is a reminder that journalism, when pursued with courage and integrity, is a vital voice of the people. It will endure as a blueprint for what journalism can achieve.
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The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago is the authorised representative body for local journalists in all formats.
