Political Ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair is seeking to have greater legislative powers to address conflicts within political parties.

In the third annual report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, Mr. Blair noted that there were still some gaps in the provisions of the Political Ombudsman Interim Act 2002, which governs how cases are handled and resolved.

The report further noted that, while there is need to strengthen the Act, greater political will was required to allow for the existing provisions to address inter party conflicts which often affect public life.

"The Political Ombudsman can only intervene in matters/conflict among the political parties. Intra party/conflicts, though they thwart the tenets of the Political Code of Conduct, are off limits by the Political Ombudsman," he said.

"With the revised Agreement and Declaration on Political Conduct, there is more provision for the Political Ombudsman to have a say in matters of this nature without overstepping his bounds."

Mr. Blair said he has taken a stance to highlight such incidents to the leaders of the political parties when such practices surface. He said this would be further intensified as the country enters a period of more intense political activity.

Writing to the authorities

He said he would be formally writing to the specified authorities as well as those politicians who engage in acts of 'mud slinging' to desist from such practices.

"Such realities seek only to create a great stir in the public domain and may instigate feuds that are likely to bear badly on the political system," Bishop Blair argued.

Meanwhile, Mr. Blair said there was still need for more public education on the role of the Office, which he said would be intensified this year. He said this would be done through a documentary feature, which would highlight the role, function as well as the nature and scope of the tasks performed at the office.

He said that schools and civic institutions would be specifically targeted where he and his representatives would address groups or such named institutions on the roles, functions and activities of the office.