When I heard newly appointed Senator and Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Marlene Malahoo-Forte, completing her oath of office, I did a double take.

At first it seemed like a mistake from this resident magistrate and brilliant, prize-winning scholar. However, it then occurred to me that she may have had her own unique interpretation of the final part of the oath, 'So help me God'.

The phrase 'So help me God' is used rou-tinely by many coun-tries and is commonly required as part of an oath of office and various forms of public duty. Mrs Malahoo-Forte paused after 'So' and inflected her voice upwards for the word 'help'; she followed it with a passive and subdued 'me God'. She said: "So, HELP me God". It's possible that she did this because those words are capitalised in the oath. However, she should have uttered a bland, conclusive 'So help me God' - like Hilary Phillips did during her Court of Appeal swearing-in ceremony.

Mrs Malahoo-Forte is taking up office (replacing Colonel Trevor MacMillan) amid criticisms from those who argue that the Government is too large - especially because Bruce Golding promised a 'small' government and since we now live in harsh economic times. And, given her penchant for outspokenness and controversy, she may indeed need divine intervention to perform her new duties while steering clear of adversity. So, come to think of it, perhaps 'So HELP me God' was a more appropriate way to complete her oath.

In today's world, hers is not your typical, top civil service post; it comes with an inordinate amount of responsibility, which was alluded to when the prime minister sought to hush critics of the appointment. The objectives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade require people with skills in diplomacy, representation, law, planning, administration, economics and international relations among others. With her qualifications, I'm certain she'll fit in somewhere.

The post is not apolitical - Malahoo-Forte has become one of 13 government senators. This unexpected detour in her life has precluded her from future (higher) posts in the judiciary - something in which she exhibited a keen interest but also which members of the private bar vehemently opposed, citing her 'polarising figure' as being inappropriate for a position on High Court bench.

Allegiance

Now that Senator Malahoo-Forte has inadvertently and publicly revealed this interpretation of the 'So, help me God' conclusion of the oath - which is a form of oath of allegiance as set out in the Oaths Act - I wonder if this isn't a good way to initiate those aspiring to elevated public service. The usual, run-of-the-mill 'So help me God' rattles off the tongue in an effort to complete the oath perfunctorily without attention to the reason for its inclusion - a deep religious significance.

I obtained an exact copy of the oath from Gordon House and it reads: 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.

I hope that all who take such oaths will keep in mind both interpretations - their promise to mankind before God (So help me God) and their supplication for help from God (So HELP me God). In such a tumultuous, corrupt, challenging and politically charged atmosphere such as ours, they need all the help that they can get to remain true, focused and honest.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Feedback may be sent to garthrattray@gmail.com and columns@gleanerjm.com.