Apr. 05/2003 - The most senior journalist in the DBS newsroom is close to make a jump into politics, the Sun can report.

    News Editor Curtis Matthew is being considered as a Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) candidate in the Grand Fond constituency in the next general election, constitutionally due in 2005, a DFP source said.

    "Curtis Matthew is interested in Grand Fond but he is wavering," the source told the Sun.

    Matthew confirmed that he was approached by the DFP to be a candidate in the last election. However, he said, his interest is elsewhere for the next poll.

    "I know the DFP wants me to contest for them (but) the (Dominica) Labour Party is talking to me. The Prime Minister (Pierre Charles) and myself had a three-hour meeting (at the week-end) and we are talking," stated Matthew, a Morne Jaune native, repeating several times that he had spoken with Charles and several other senior DLP officials. "There are two of three people they are looking at but they tell me I'm the frontrunner."

    Matthew said that he would decide by August whether or not to join the race for a seat which he said was open because of the retirement of the incumbent, Gertrude Roberts of the opposition United Workers Party (UWP).

    But the journalist with a dozen years experience sounded very much like he would be the DLP candidate the next time the parties face the Dominican electorate.

    "I haven't said yes, I'm still looking at it. (However), I have always said that at some point I will represent Morne Jaune . I don't know (if this is the point, but) the response out there is very encouraging," he told the Sun. Morne Jaune is part of the Grand Fond constituency.

    Matthew said that the DLP offered him nothing and he asked for no favours.

    "No offers have been made to me. I haven't asked for anything and I don't intend to ask for anything. All I'm interested in is representing the people of Morne Jaune," he said.