Misha Lobban, Contributor

My best friend is the man who, in wishing me well, wishes it for my sake.- Aristotle

Political Ombudsman and head of the Peace Management Initiative, Bishop Herro Blair, plays with a baby while her mother looks on, during a tour of Mountain View, St Andrew, last year July.- Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Political Ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair, is one of the most visible and influential leaders in Jamaica.

He first came to public prominence during the 1980s when he built the Faith Deliverance Centre at 104 Waltham Park Road in St Andrew. A pastor for more than 38 years, Bishop Blair has been helping to transform the lives of persons from inner-city communities surrounding the church.

His involvement in politics began in the 1980s when he served as spiritual adviser to then Prime Minister Edward Seaga, and in the mid-1990s, when he became chairman of the newly formed National Democratic Movement.

strong activism

His strong activism and public leadership led to his appointment as Political Ombudsman in July 2002 by then Prime Minister P.J. Patterson. Bishop Blair is also chairman of the National Peace Management Initiative (PMI), which was established in response to the increasing crime rate in Corporate Area communities. The PMI is designed to help defuse tensions in war-torn areas. In his capacity as Political Ombudsman and head of the PMI, he has been working tirelessly to maintain peace in volatile inner-city communities affected by political tribalism.

In October 2007, Bishop Blair was among six Jamaicans bestowed with the Order of Jamaica - the fourth highest award - for his contribution to the field of religion and his outstanding public service. He had previously received the Order of Distinction (Commander Class).

outstanding service

His best friend is Rev Oliver Daley, ordained minister of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and pastor of Ridgemount United Church in Mandeville. Rev Daley is also president of the Mandeville Minister's Fraternal, member of the board of Knox College and a recipient of the national honour, the Order of Distinction (Commander Class), in recognition of his outstanding service in the field of religion.

Through the eyes of his best friend, we learn of Herro Blair's deep commitment to people and the possibilities that people can achieve in their lives, given the fact that he has overcome tremendous challenges in his own life. We also learn in this week's feature that he is an excellent singer and has compiled a CD of his songs.

How did you meet Bishop Herro Blair, and how long have you been friends?

I met him in 1953 at Maryland Primary School in Hanover. His father was a pastor and he was transferred to the community of Maryland to carry out pastoral duties. When the family was relocated Herro was placed in my class, and I think we connected because he was very friendly.

Our friendship grew over the years because of the fact that we are both from deeply religious families. His mother and my mother became close friends and the connection between our families helped to keep us bonded together as friends.

Over the years, we have shared deaths, personal crises, pain relating to our children, and many major moments in our lives. While we have shared major pains in our journey, we have also had great moments of celebrations, including milestones in our families and our ministries.

Tell us what you admire most about him, and why you think you have remained friends all these years.

He has a deep commitment to people and the possibility of what they can become, given the fact that he has overcome tremendous challenges in his own life. Herro's life story is a statement of the overcoming power of God's grace in a person's life. We have both risen from the bosom of difficulty and poverty and were blessed to have had parents who had the vision of the possibilities of what their children could become in life. We have never forgotten where we are coming from, and I think that's one of the reasons we are committed to each other as friends.

Rev J. Oliver Daley - Ridgemount.

I also admire the fact that he dreams big dreams. He doesn't give up on anything in spite of the challenges, and he has this capacity to make others believe in whatever he is doing.

We have always been there for each other and we have been inspired by each other's dreams and visions. We are also very similar in personality, in that we are both friendly and we have a deep love for people. I think it is also our genuine love and respect for each other, as well as the ideals that we are committed to, that is, serving people and seeing the gospel transform people's lives, that have kept us bonded together.

Tell us something interesting about Herro Blair.

He is an excellent singer and he has a CD of his owns songs, but I don't know if it has been released publicly.

Herro also has a vulnerability to people's suffering and so, whenever he sees a problem, he always seeks to find a solution.

In addition, every family has someone who holds it together throughout the different moods and times, and Herro is that central figure in his family. There are eight