PATTERSON and QUEEN ELIZABETH IIVernon Daley, Staff Reporter
THE GOVERNMENT has missed its deadline for changing the Oath of Allegiance in time for this year's Independence celebrations.
Last year, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson told the House of Representatives that by Independence the Government would move to shrug off one of the final vestiges of Jamaica's colonial past, by ending a requirement that public office holders swear an oath of loyalty to the British monarch. Instead, they would be required to swear allegiance to the Jamaican people and the Constitution.
Attorney-General A.J. Nicholson, who was given the task to ensure the change, told The Gleaner earlier this week that legislation was now before the Chief Parliamen-tary Counsel aimed at amending the Constitution to facilitate the creation of the new oath.
However, with Parliament this week breaking for the summer recess, Senator Nicholson suggested that the new oath would not be in place before next year's Independence celebrations.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General said "consultations are ongoing for the wording of the oath."
In January, Mr. Nicholson revealed a number of suggestions had come in from church groups and civic organisations to the Government, proposing changes to the oath. The suggestions, he said, would be taken into account before arriving at the final draft.
After the Government arrives at a final draft of the oath, it will then take it to the public for discussion, Mr. Nicholson added.
The Prime Minister suggested, in his address to the House last year, that the change in the oath should not be controversial.
"I can hardly think of anyone, certainly few in this chamber, who is required to take the Oath of Allegiance, who does not feel a sense of discomfort at being obliged to swear allegiance to a foreign monarch, rather than the nation and Constitution of Jamaica," Mr. Patterson told the House.
Plans to amend the oath are supported by the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party. However, Opposition Leader Edward Seaga has constantly criticised the Government for what he said is a "piecemeal approach" to constitutional reform. He said all the major constitutional changes should be taken at the same time.
Debate on changing the Oath of Allegiance stretches back many years.
Several politicians, including the late former Prime Minister, Michael Manley, advocated amending the oath so public officials could swear loyalty to the Jamaican state.
