Devon Dick

Recently, United States (U.S.) Senator Larry Craig changed his mind about his June guilty plea to a charge emanating from a sex sting operation in an airport bathroom where it is alleged he solicited sex from a policeman. There was a show on CNN trying to determine why legislators broke the law. One psychologist posited that it is because they have so many hangers-on doing things for them that they believe they are above the law.

Today, a new administration will be inaugurated with the swearing-in of Mr. Bruce Golding as Prime Minister. He has said that his team will be subject to the law. In addition, I was impressed that he paid a fine for careless driving. Most persons of such high social standing would just call a high-ranking police officer and the ticket would be destroyed. Have you ever noticed that when you visit the Traffic Court that there is an absence of well-known figures. Why? Are they above the law?

Golding's test today in his speech is whether he will pledge to uphold the Constitution and claim that he will not allow anyone to sit in the House of Representatives, the Senate or the Cabinet, who, by his or her own act has sworn allegiance to a foreign state or power. Hopefully, a similar statement would come from the PNP.

Misinformation

Unfortunately, a lot of misinformation has been written to mislead the public. May I suggest that persons do a Google search and get the facts.

Everyone who is a naturalised U.S. citizen must swear this oath:

"I hereby declare, an oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have therefore been a subject or citizen, that I will support and defend the constitution and laws of the U.S. ... that I will bear arms on behalf of the U.S. when required by law."

By such a declaration, you are saying that you are renouncing: meaning, you are abandoning your right or claim to Jamaican citizenship. And ethically, if you renounce, you should announce. Do we really want someone who has renounced Jamaican citizenship to be a parliamentarian? I think not. If a Jamaican by CHOICE decides to pledge allegiance to a foreign country, he or she is debarred from our Parliament according to our Constitution. And so it should be!

Devision of loyalty

The U.S. is also correct in recognising that loyalty cannot be divided and one has to make a choice which army one will join and which constitution and laws one will defend. It is a shame and disgrace that someone who has sworn that U.S. oath would want to be in our Parliament and Cabinet.

Unfortunately, some politicians believe that they are above the law. And then there are persons who give tacit support to them. So the law for sanctions against politicians is weak or non-existent. If a parliamentarian fails tomake an asset declaration to the Integrity Commission, what is the punishment? What happens to a politician who fails to account for the expenditure during election campaigning?

Jamaicans are too tolerant of politicians' serious breaches of the law. They have too many supporters encouraging them to break our laws. And some politicians feel that they can get away with anything.

I notice that business organisations have not given an opinion on this issue of foreign allegiance. Why? I believe that some have sworn allegiance to a foreign state. Jamaica is suffering and perhaps it's from leaders whose primary loyalty is elsewhere.

Today, provides a golden opportunity for our new Prime Minister to declare that his administration will be loyal only to Jamaica. Let's pray he does and remain subject to the law.