Eli Joseph Matalon, OJ (January 9, 1924 – October 31, 1999) was a Jamaican businessman and politician representing the

People's National Party The People's National Party (PNP) (PNP; ) is a Social democracy, social democratic List of political parties in Jamaica, political party in Jamaica, founded in 1938 by Norman Manley, Norman Washington Manley who served as party president unti ...

(PNP). He served as Mayor of

Kingston Kingston may refer to: Places * List of places called Kingston, including the six most populated: ** Kingston, Jamaica ** Kingston upon Hull, England ** City of Kingston, Victoria, Australia ** Kingston, Ontario, Canada ** Kingston upon Thames, ...

from 1971 to 1973, as Minister of Education from 1973 to 1974, and as the first Minister of National Security and Justice from 1974 to 1976.

Early life and education

Matalon was born Eleyahu Joseph Matalon on January 9, 1924 in

Kingston, Jamaica Kingston is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long spit (landform), sand spit which connects the town of Por ...

to a family of Syrian-Jewish origin. He was seventh of eleven children born to Joseph Isaac Matalon, merchant, and Florizel Madge Matalon (née Henriques). Matalon was educated at Kingston College.

Military service

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Matalon served as a

flying officer Flying officer (Fg Offr or F/O) is a junior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Flying officer is immediately ...

in the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...

. He was a bomber pilot in the 6th Group Bomber Command.

Business career

Upon his return to Jamaica after military service, Matalon set up a cocoa-processing factory in the 1950s and ran Tropicair Jalousies and West Indies Paints, subsidiaries of ICD Group Limited, a Matalon family-owned investment holding company. He subsequently rose to become coordinator for all manufacturing and the building products division of ICD Group Limited.

Political career

Matalon first stood for elected office in the Parish Council Elections of 1969. He was elected Councillor for the

Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation The Kingston and Saint Andrew Corporation (KSAC) is a unit of local government in Jamaica. It was formed in 1923 when the parishes of Saint Andrew and Kingston Kingston may refer to: Places * List of places called Kingston, including the six mos ...

and subsequently as Mayor of Kingston from 1971 to 1973. In February 1973, after the PNP's victory at the polls in the 1972 general election, Matalon was appointed as

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

and Minister of State in the Ministry of Education in the

Michael Manley Michael Norman Manley (10 December 1924 – 6 March 1997) was a Jamaican politician who served as the fourth prime minister of Jamaica, from 1972 to 1980, and from 1989 to 1992. Manley championed a democratic socialist program, and has been ...

-led administration. He served in this capacity until he was elevated to the position of Minister of Education, succeeding Sir Florizel Glasspole, who has been appointed

Governor General Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...

. Glasspole was the first member of Parliament for Kingston East and Port Royal constituency, and had represented the area in Parliament for 29 years. Matalon successfully contested the resulting by-election, becoming the first Jamaican of Jewish descent to be elected to the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...

. In 1974, the Ministry of National Security and Justice was created to replace the former ministries of home affairs and defense. Matalon was appointed as the first holder of the newly-created cabinet portfolios. He was succeeded in his former position of Minister of Education by Sir Howard Cooke. Matalon stepped down as Minister of National Security and Justice after only two years in office due to failing health. He was succeeded as Minister of Justice by Carl Rattray and by Keble Munn as Minister of National Security.

Honors and awards

Matalon was awarded the

Order of Jamaica The Order of Jamaica is the fifth of the six orders in the Jamaican honours system. The Order was established in 1969, and it is considered the equivalent of a knighthood in the British honours system. Membership in the Order can be conferred upon ...

for public service in 1975. He was appointed

Ambassador-at-large An ambassador-at-large is a diplomat, a secretary of state, secretary, or a minister (government), minister of the highest rank who is accredited to represent a country and its people internationally. Unlike an ambassador-in-residence, who is us ...

for Jamaica in February 1989.

Mico University College The Mico University College is an institution of higher education in Kingston, Jamaica. History The Mico was founded in 1835 through the Lady Mico Charity, one of four teacher training institutions established during this period in the Briti ...

, the oldest teacher-training institution in Jamaica, named its main auditorium the Eli Matalon Gymnasium in honour of Matalon.

Personal life and death

Matalon married Hilary (née Surridge) on March 14, 1950. The couple had 3 sons and 2 daughters. In 1976, Matalon suffered a massive heart attack, which caused him to retire from public office. In later years he lived in Miami, Florida, where he died on October 31, 1999, at the age of 75.

References

, - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Matalon, Eli 1924 births 1999 deaths Politicians from Kingston, Jamaica Jamaican businesspeople 20th-century Jamaican politicians Mayors of Kingston, Jamaica Members of the Order of Jamaica Jamaican people of Jewish descent People's National Party (Jamaica) politicians Royal Canadian Air Force personnel of World War II Syrian Jews Jamaican people of Syrian descent People educated at Kingston College (Jamaica)