On page B10 of Wednesday's Gleaner, the DPP refers to the effect of delays in the justice system. It is ironic that on the same page reference is made to a case involving an alleged offence against a 14-year-old schoolgirl which has been before the court for two years. Can we expect some improvement now that three women occupy the highest positions in the system?

-M.G. Perry,mgperry@rogers.com

Shun the killing field

Have you noticed that one of the Democrats, Hilary Clinton, who is aspiring to become the first woman president of the USA and John Cain, already selected as the Republican Party nominee also have the same views about invading Iran.

At least Barack Obama says if elected he will have dialogue first. He has however, earned the wrath of President Bush by this remark.

President Bush feels that the USA should not speak with terrorists. I wonder what the American people think of all this. Are they not tired of wars - look on the agony parents are taking with the loss of their children in Iraq and Afghanistan. Does anybody care? Why can't human beings live in peace. Of course, there will be disagreements but there can be discussion and meeting each other halfway. There must be some other way than the killing field.

- Barbara Cover, bcover@cwjamaica.com

US Oath of Allegiance

This is the American oath involved in the current debate about dual citizenship:

"I hereby declare, on 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 heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform non-combatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

Supplied by Attorney-at-law Frank Phipps along with his Letter of the Day on the subject published on Thursday, May 15. He added NB: Renunciation of allegiance to any foreign country to which the immigrant has had previous allegiances to is not enforced.