Dear Editor,

Whilst the Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck is now looking at reviewing the outdated fines still on the books in our laws, it would be good of him to look at the outdated laws, some of which are not only a carry-over from slavery but a perpetuation of it.For example, the Obeah Act. This law was deliberately implemented to wipe out all vestiges of the Afrikan religion and culture that were brought to Jamaica. Prior to baptism of the Afrikans —by the pastors of the white western religions, such as the Anglicans, Catholics, etc, the Afrikans had to renounce their Afrikan principles, which included any participation in obeah practices, and they could no longer be called by their Afrikan names. Thereafter they were baptised and then given a “Christian name”.The Obeah Act defines “a person practising obeah” as any person who “for the purpose of frightening any person, uses, or pretends to use any occult means, or pretends to possess any supernatural power or knowledge”.Most pastors that I see on television pretend to possess supernatural powers, and frighten their congregations with a permanent hell fire, ordained by God.If that definition is bad, let’s look at the definition for “instrument of obeah”. The law states it “means anything used, or intended to be used by a person, and pretended by such person to be possessed of any occult or supernatural power”. So, do these people who use the

Bible to ward off evil spirits, etc, realise that they are using an “instrument of obeah”.Any person practising obeah shall be liable to imprisonment for 12 months along with whipping.From now on I will have to be careful when I burn incense in my book shop, especially frankincense and myrrh. 

Michael A Lorne

Attorney-at-law

Kingston, Jamaica

headstartp@hotmail.com