MatalonBUSINESSMAN JOSEPH A. Matalon has turned down a request from the People's National Party (PNP) for him to run as its candidate for the Central Kingston constituency.
Mr. Matalon confirmed a report, which appeared in The Gleaner yesterday, that he was being courted by the party to be its candidate. However, he said he had turned down the request for personal reasons.
"I don't want to go into details. It was a very difficult decision for me to have made. I was proposed for the seat and I had to decline," he told The Gleaner yesterday. "I am rather flattered that I was chosen because I think the choice came, not from the top, but from the area itself."
Sources told The Gleaner on Monday that during the party's canvassing of the constituency, several persons expressed a desire to see Mr. Matalon as the PNP's candidate in the upcoming general election.
Mr. Matalon recently resigned as chairman for the state-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC). He is a member of the Matalon family, which controls the ICD Group, headquartered on Harbour Street, Central Kingston.
Meanwhile, Christopher Castriota, yesterday withdrew his bid to run on the party's ticket in the constituency. The former PNP Youth Organisation executive member reportedly backed down, arguing he did not want to create divisions in the constituency and hinder the PNP's chances of retaining the seat.
The three remaining persons seeking to run on the party's ticket are Colonel Leslie Lloyd, former MP for the area; Sonia Rickards, who recently lost out to O.T. Williams in a race for the candidacy in West St. Andrew; and Victor Cummings, Councillor for the Allman Town Division.
The Central Kingston seat became vacant two weeks ago when Ronnie Thwaites resigned amid allegations of financial misconduct.
