P.J. Patterson, President of the People's National Party (PNP), will on Wednesday be officially sworn in as Prime Minister of Jamaica for a record third consecutive term. - File P.J. PATTERSON, President of the People's National Party (PNP), will on Wednesday be officially sworn in as Prime Minister of Jamaica for a record third consecutive term.
His governing party also created history in last Wednesday's general election by winning an unprecedented fourth term as Government.
Having piloted a Bill in the House of Representatives in August to change the Oaths of Allegiance politicians and judges swear to The Queen, Mr. Patterson will be the first Prime Minister to swear allegiance to the Jamaican people and to the Jamaican Constitution.
He will be sworn in by Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke in a ceremony at the recently opened Emancipation Park, New Kingston.
"It is the first occasion on which the Prime Minister of Jamaica, and the Cabinet when appointed, will be taking the Oath of Allegiance to be faithful to the Constitution of Jamaica and to be loyal in the discharge of their duties to the people of Jamaica," Mr. Patterson said at a press briefing last Thursday.
Based on the amendments to the Oath of Allegiance, the next set of Parliamentarians will swear as follows:
"I, ..., do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Jamaica, that I will uphold and 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 of Allegiance that has been replaced reads as follows:
"I, ..., do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11, her Heirs and Successors, according to law. So help me God".
