Media Personnel who wish to participate in CHOGM 2009 must be accredited by the National Secretariat for CHOGM 2009 through the procedures set out below. A personal, non-transferable Identification (ID) badge will be issued to each person participating in CHOGM 2009. This ID badge must be worn at all times and visibly displayed in order to access official CHOGM 2009 sites.

Media Accreditation is available in two categories: Local Media and International Media.

1. Local Media - Media personnel resident in Trinidad and Tobago and representatives of Media houses located in the host country of Trinidad and Tobago.
2. International Media - Media personnel resident in any country other than the host country and representatives of Media houses located in any country other than Trinidad and Tobago.

In order to guarantee accreditation, members of the media intending to stay at local hotels should submit their Accreditation Forms by 15 October, 2009. However, members of the media intending to stay aboard the Cruise Ship must submit their Accreditation Forms by30 September, 2009 ‘please click here for Media Accommodation’ Registration forms received after the stipulated deadlines may be subject to processing delays and the National Secretariat cannot guarantee that accreditation will be completed in time for CHOGM 2009.

The following mandatory fields must be completed in order to save or print your form.

• Surname
• Given Name
• Name as you wish it to appear on the pass
• Address (last 12 months, maximum two addresses
• Employer (last 12 months, maximum two employers)
• Date of Birth
• Country of birth
• Identification document information (Type of document, ID number, Country of issue, Expiry date)

Media personnel will be required to provide the National Secretariat with the following:

• Completed accreditation form with a digital photograph (see specifications)
• Bona Fide Letter from Media House or employer

Photograph submissions must comply with the specifications listed below:

• JPEG format, no larger than 50KB
• Full colour and passport sized (50 mm x 70 mm)
• Photograph should be taken against a pale or white background
• Taken in the past six months
• File name for digital images must be identified as follows: surname, given name and date of birth (Year/Month/Day)
• Any printed photographs must be identified on the reverse with the surname, given name and date of birth (Year/Month/Day)

A letter written by the News Editor/Manager of the Media House confirming the status of the applicant must be attached to this form.

For Local Media Accreditation click here now

For International Media Accreditation click here now

Please be advised, that ALL media personnel including permanent, temporary and freelance staff, will be accredited as MEDIA for CHOGM 2009. This classification also extends to applicants, inclusive of State-Owned media entities and Official Photographers who will form part of Delegations.

A special provision will be instituted for Official Photographers during the plenary sessions and retreats. This process involves the issuing of an easily identifiable arm band to agreed persons, who will then form part of three Media Pools and will accompanied by Security and Communications personnel, to capture the plenary sessions or retreats for 2 minutes.

In the event that a media person is requested by their Delegation Secretary to cover a bilateral meeting, this person, displaying the appropriate badge, will be escorted into the meeting and then escorted of the Island Site.

Please ensure that all documentation is submitted electronically. If, however, any international media are unable to submit any component electronically (eg a photo or a letter from a news editor) then please send via post to the following address:
Accreditation
Communications and Public Affairs Division
Commonwealth Secretariat
Quadrant House
Pall Mall
London
SW1Y 5HX

For more information on Media Accreditation please contact:

National Secretariat
Fifth Summit of the Americas
Level 12, Tower C, IFC Building
1A Wrightson Road, P.O.S.
Trinidad W.I.

E-mail1:localmedia@opm.gov.tt

E-mail2:internationalmedia@opm.gov.tt