A GUARDED BUT apparently optimistic Political Ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair, yesterday said he expected progress would soon be made in easing the tensions between the country's two major political parties.
"Because of the delicate state of my intervention I am not able to supply you with the information that you seek to gather," he said in response to questions from members of the Rotary Club of St. Andrew at their regular meeting at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.
"I do hope and trust that within the next 24 hours I will be able to say something that is quite positive," Bishop Blair said. He was addressing specific queries on what action he would be taking, in his role as Ombudsman, to curb rumblings in the wake of recent comments made by senior members of the Government and Opposition.
Last week Bishop Blair told The Gleaner that he had already met, individually, with Leader of the Opposition Edward Seaga and Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips who was acting as head of Government in the absence of Prime Minister P.J. Patterson. Bishop Blair said, at that time, that he was expecting to hear a response to his request for a joint meeting from the two political parties some time this week.
While lauding the St. Andrew Rotarians for their charitable work, the Ombudsman made a donation to their most recent effort. The club is seeking to purchase a portable kidney dialysis machine for the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH).
The President of the club, Dr. Lloyd Eubank-Green, said that US$53,815 was needed to acquire the equipment that could potentially save the lives of hundreds of renal patients.
Dr. Eubanks-Green said that there were as many as 750 patients needing dialysis each year and facilities for only 234 at the hospital.
The Rotarians have planned a fund-raising golf tournament for Saturday and have so far received almost $300,000 in sponsorship from organisations such as the National Commercial Bank, Scotia Bank, Red Stripe and Capital and Credit Merchant Bank.
Mr. Eubanks-Green is hoping that, through this tournament and a number of other fundraising events, the club will be able to attain the US$53,000 goal.
