POLITICAL OMBUDSMAN Bishop Herro Blair yesterday endorsed the view that the impending general election would be the most peaceful the country has ever seen, but warned that there were lurking conflicts that could undermine efforts to ensure a poll free of violence.

Bishop Blair told editors and senior reporters at The Gleaner's Editors Forum, that efforts to ensure a peaceful election were being led by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and Leader of the Opposition, Edward Seaga.

"Both of them have, in my opinion, done well for the country but they will be assessed by what they do for the country in this election campaign and the legacy that they would have left for Jamaica would be based on how they handle themselves during this election campaign," he said. "And, that is why I believe their supporters are toeing the line."

He, however, cautioned that recent incidents of violence in various communities in Kingston and St. Catherine could erode the foundation of peace that has been built over the last few months.

The Bishop pointed to recent gang violence, which erupted in Central Kingston, shattering the fragile peace which existed in the area. At least two people have been shot and killed and 14 others injured in three separate drive-by shooting incidents between Saturday and Sunday.

Bishop Blair, in his capacity as head of the Peace Management Initiative (PMI), on Monday toured the constituency. The interventionist group, which seeks to broker peace in troubled communities, met with political representatives from the area in an attempt to ease tensions.

Bishop Blair also told The Editors Forum that the link between politics and criminality still existed, though not as strongly as it did in the 1970s and 1980s.

He pointed to a recent disturbance in an unnamed community, where the political leaders played a key role in pushing warring factions to stop fighting.

"If the political leaders can have such influence on these guys, then that is something that we must investigate," Bishop Blair said.

He stressed that he was not suggesting that political leaders were providing these gangs with assistance in carrying out their sordid deeds, but that they still had some influence over them and the way they operated.

Bishop Blair also pointed out that the actions of some members of the police force have helped to create a rift between the Constabulary and some communities, injuring efforts at co-operation and peace.

"I believe, all in all, the greater portion of the Police Force is doing an excellent work. There are those among them who feel that justice is being denied... and so they have to take it in their own hands and that creates a hate-hate situation," he said.

Bishop Blair, who took up the appointment as head of the PMI in January and Political Ombudsman in July, has enjoyed widespread support and respect from both major political parties, the governing People's National Party and the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party.

In fact, Bishop Blair who quit as chairman of the National Democratic Movement, revealed that both the PNP and JLP, up to June this year, had offered him safe seats to run on their ticket in the impending election. He declined the invitations, however, he said.