By Barbara Gayle, Contributor
Prime Minister P. J. Patterson taking the old oath of allegiance. - File
A woman who served as a juror in a murder case three years ago says she was surprised at the abrupt manner in which a judge spoke to a witness in the case.
She said the witness was speaking softly when the judge ordered her to "speak up" and remarked that she was a grown woman so there was no reason for her to be shy.
The particular witness she said was the mother of the deceased who the juror felt must have been grieving for her only son who was robbed and then shot and killed while on his way from work.
She made a comparison with another judge who was very polite to a witness who was speaking softly. She said that judge simply explained that it was important for everyone in the courtroom to hear what the witness was saying so he had to speak louder.
"I refer to the two instances because despite the controversy over the change in the Oath of Allegiance, I am happy that a change has been made. It is my honest opinion that the new oath will help some of those in authority, including some Parliamentarians and judges to understand that they are the servants of the people of Jamaica, therefore the oath they take when called upon to serve should reflect this."
An Oath of Allegiance is an oath taken when some citizens are appointed to certain offices or sworn in as members of parliament or the Senate. It is an oath by which they swear to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Crown which is the Head of State.
In Jamaica, Her Majesty, The Queen, is the Head of State. An Oath of Allegiance has been in existence from medieval times in England when the Serfs pledged their loyalty to the Lord and the Lord made an oath of loyalty to the monarch. In modern times the servants of the state including parliamentarians and judges give their oath of loyalty to the State.
The Oath of Allegiance and the judicial oath are enshrined in the Constitution of Jamaica. The change to the oath in Jamaica required only two-thirds votes of the majority in the House of Representatives before being ratified by the Senate.
After the general election on October 16, the new Parliamentarians will swear allegiance to Jamaica and swear to defend the Constitution and the laws of Jamaica. "And that I will conscientiously and impartially discharge my responsibilities to the people of Jamaica. So Help me God," the oath states.
