Edmond Campbell, News Coordinator

Political Ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair, has called a high-level meeting today with members of the hierarchy of the two major political parties, to address breaches of the political code of conduct and related issues.

In a Gleaner interview yesterday, Bishop Blair raised concerns about the practice by some candidates of reporting infringements of the code to the media before making an official report to the Office of the Political Ombudsman.

According to Bishop Blair, the last two complaints of violations of the code were issued to the press days before they were brought to his attention by way of letters.

Tried by the media

The Political Ombudsman maintained that reports of contravention of the code in some constituencies have been "tried by the media and the public", before candidates asked his office to adjudicate.

"It compromises the situation," Bishop Blair insisted, but said that this would not prevent him from acting on the complaint based on his mandate.

Bishop Blair told The Gleaner that he received two complaints, one yesterday and the other on May 3.

In the last two months, the Office of the Political Ombudsman has received a total of five complaints from political representatives on breaches of the Political Code of Conduct.

Meanwhile, several orange flags, which were mounted in sections of Central Westmoreland on Friday, have reportedly been removed.

People's National Party (PNP) supporters removed the flags yesterday following a directive by the Political Ombudsman after a complaint was filed to his office.

The PNP supporters told The Gleaner that they erected the orange flags on Friday morning after they observed several green flags in the constituency.

It is reported that several green flags were mounted on Dalling Street in anticipation of the visit on Saturday by Jamaica Labour Party Leader Bruce Golding, and candidate/caretaker Russell Hammond.

- Gleaner Writer Dalton Laing contributed to this story