Jamaicans swear in prime minister for 3rd term

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- P.J. Patterson was sworn in for a third straight term as Jamaica's prime minister, pledging to boost the Caribbean island's struggling economy, fight drug trafficking and heal political divisions.\nBefore a crowd of about 2,500 invited guests on Wednesday night, Patterson became the first prime minister to swear allegiance to the Jamaican people and the constitution, instead of the queen of England.\nIn August, Patterson helped push through legislation changing the oath of allegiance taken by public officials in the former British colony. Jamaica is still part of the British Commonwealth.\nPatterson, whose People's National Party won 34 of 60 parliamentary seats last week, pledged to work with opposition lawmakers in addressing problems.\n"With unity, no problem is unsolvable," he said.\nWith a gospel choir singing and swaying beneath the stage, Patterson promised to help usher in an era of "unprecedented economic expansion," "first-world" infrastructure and protection of human rights.\n"Today, I'm pledging my total commitment to facilitate the empowerment of our people," Patterson told a cheering crowd at Kingston's Emancipation Park.\nHe said he would appoint his Cabinet ministers later this week. Patterson said the ceremony marked the first time a Jamaican prime minister has been sworn in outdoors in public, instead of at the residence of the governor general.\nPatterson, 68, was appointed prime minister in 1993, after the retirement of his mentor, former Prime Minister Michael Manley, whose socialist policies brought free education and health care but destroyed the economy by nationalizing industries.\nPatterson has said he will retire from politics before his five-year term ends.