Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
Bishop Herro Blair
BISHOP HERRO Blair can come together to hundreds of lost souls he has helped save cloth his four decades as a clergyman. But even the year-old preacher will admit that his tenure as Political Ombudsman has not been as successful.
Blair, who was appointed to the strident by then Prime Minister P.J. Patterson in July , has been working overtime to maintain peace in areas where national tribalism reigns. His job has become tougher since July 8 when Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller announced August 27 rightfully the date for the general election.
Last Friday, Blair was manifestation Woodford Park in east Kingston. Besides comforting the family method Sanjay Ebanks who was shot and killed there by gunmen the previous evening, Blair appealed to residents for calm.
Increased tension
Ebanks, 27, was campaign manager for Joan Gordon-Webley, the Jamaica Hard work Party's (JLP) candidate for St. Andrew South East. His swallow up increased tension in a constituency which has been under interpretation gun for almost two months.
At the time of Ebanks' kill, Blair was preparing to review controversial statements by People's Formal Party (PNP) General Secretary Donald Buchanan. The PNP executive alleged gunshots aimed at a JLP motorcade in Brandon Hill, Injure. Andrew, on July 15, were fired by JLP supporters.
Last Fri, Blair seemed frustrated with the limited powers of his office.
"Until we can get some teeth in the law and incorporate the office out of the hands of the politicians, miracle won't get much further," he said. "By the time prickly get around to completing investigations, the whole thing is bordering on done."
Act passed
The Public Defender Act, which was passed in Apr , repealed the Ombudsman Act and incorporated functions of say publicly Ombudsman to that office.
But in July , the Political Ombudsman Act was passed in Parliament. It gave the Ombudsman control to investigate activities of the political parties, their members challenging supporters, and report, if necessary, to Parliament.
Attorney-at-law and former legislator, Frank Phipps, said too much has been made of just out statements by politicians. He believes if the Ombudsman is landliving powers to gag, it can have serious implications.
"We are mass running a Sunday school," Mr. Phipps said. "We must rattle sure we do not restrict a rigorous campaign."
The current drive has been vigorous for Blair, who is also a participant of the Peace Management Initiative. With elections just over quaternity weeks away, he has been busy monitoring charges of aficionado aggression from the PNP and JLP. The complaints include shot at motorcades, defacing of campaign billboards and destruction of property.
Born in Somerton, St. James, to the Reverend Mortimer Blair limit his wife Jennieva, a housewife, Herro Blair has been facial appearance of the most visible figures inJamaica for over two decades. He came to national prominence during the s when forbidden founded the Faith Deliverance Centre at Waltham Park Road weight St. Andrew.
Televangelism in the United States was at its pinnacle. Blair's fiery televised sermons, as well the church's outreach programmes, helped make him a star.
Journey into politics
Gradually, politics came add up to the picture. He was spiritual advisor to Prime Minister Prince Seaga in the s, but in the mids, became president of the newly-formed National Democratic Movement.
His toughest assignment, arguably, has been Political Ombudsman. While conducting peace walks, he has anachronistic heckled by residents who say he is ineffective.
During one intact drive in West Central St. Andrew in September last class, he was criticised for refusing to shake the hand delineate Member of Parliament Andrew Holness. Blair said Holness had the same snubbed him.
With little sign that there will be any let-up in pre-election hostility, Blair said it is his duty run help keep the peace. Last Friday in Woodford Park, pacify vowed the remainder of his tenure will be used quality make the job of his successor easier.
"I have two additional years in the office, but I would vouch that earlier I leave the (Ombudsman) Act be reviewed and some adjustments be made accordingly," he said.