Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter

ATTEMPTS BY Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair to ease rising tensions between supporters of the two main political parties ahead of the pending general election, hit a snag yesterday.This came as an unnamed political representative failed to make time for a peace march in the turbulent South East St. Andrew constituency.

Although Bishop Blair refused to identify the candidate, he said the walk, scheduled for yesterday afternoon, had to be postponed as a result of her absence.

"One of the candidates has not finalised a time, but we don't want to tour the area without both representatives," the Political Ombudsman told The Gleaner.

The failed walk followed an incident in the constituency last Thursday, in which four persons who were among Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters travelling in a bus to a rally being held by the party, were left nursing gunshots wounds after men reportedly opened fire on the vehicle.

Scoffing at suggestions that she had no interest in participating in the walk with incumbent Member of Parliament Maxine Henry-Wilson, JLP candidate for the constituency, Joan Gordon-Webley, told The Gleaner she had been advised about the walk at short notice.

"What kind of foolishnessis this," Mrs. Gordon-Webley said.

"I am the person who asked for the march. The march was upon my initiation. I was the one who extended the offer."

The postponement of the peace walk came the same day Bishop Blair met with members of the governing People's National Party (PNP) and the JLP to discuss concerns about the recent conduct of supporters in the ongoing political campaign.

Shortly after that meeting, at which JLP General Secretary Karl Samuda and the PNP's Paul Robertson, Colin Campbell, Angela Brown-Burke and Julian Robinson were present, the Ombudsman's office issued a statement calling for representatives from both sides "to conduct which supports a non-violent election 2007."

The statement indicated that the main item on the agenda at yesterday's meeting was the growing reports of defacing and damaging of political billboards; specifically two recent cases in the South East St. Elizabeth and North Trelawny constituencies.

In the nearly two-hour meeting, several decisions were made such as that politicians must stay clear of "irresponsible pronouncements"; campaign personnel should monitor motorcades; and that transporting of supporters of a party to the location for a mass meeting of the other party is to be avoided.

During the meeting it was agreed that a meeting of politicians and media representatives should be scheduled to establish guidelines for conduct throughout the campaign.

At the same time, amidst reports of disquiet in some constituencies in St. Elizabeth, Superintendent of Police in charge of the parish, Howard Francis, has scheduled a meeting for today with all candidates and campaign managers contesting the elections.

Today's meeting comes following a number of incidents and reports of unlawful behaviour associated with political motorcades in the parish.

Two weeks ago, PNP supporters attending a mass meeting at Junction reported that they were stoned and that a car was damaged at Cheapside.

"The police in the parish will adopt a zero tolerance approach towards unlawful behaviour during motorcades and at political meetings and gatherings," Supt. Francis told The Gleaner.

Melville Harris contributed to this story