By Claude Mills, Staff Reporter
Opposition Leader Edward Seaga (second left), strides down Duke Street, flanked by Opposition Spokesman on National Security Derrick Smith (right) and Senator Anthony Johnson (left), as he led JLP members into the ceremonial opening of Parliament at Gordon House, yesterday. - Norman Grindley /Staff Photographer
JAMAICANS WERE treated to pomp and pageantry befitting monarchy during the ceremonial opening of Parliament at Gordon House, downtown Kingston on Wednesday.
High fashion, military salutes and manoeuvres, full-bottomed wigs, drum rolls, starched uniforms, and expensive luxury cars dominated the activities surrounding the event, which achieved an order of dignity exceeding normal parliamentary proceedings.
Members of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) marched down Duke Street as customary from the north. Opposition Leader Edward Seaga strode in confidently with members of the old guard in tow. The fashion-conscious James Robertson was dressed in a dapper-looking navy blue suit while Opposition spokesman on National Security Derrick Smith raised eyebrows with an immaculately-cut cream suit with matching tie.
Members of the ruling People's National Party (PNP) arrived from the south. Prime Minister P.J. Patterson greeted basic school students who had congregated close by to watch the proceedings. The ever- popular Portia Simpson Miler, Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sport who topped a recent list of best-performing ministers in a Gleaner/Don Anderson poll, was at her charismatic best. She shook hands with a number of individuals, and even waded into a mob of adoring students from the Wilbert Stewart Basic School to hug and plant kisses on their cheeks.
Minister of Tourism Aloun Assamba was cooly elegant in a white outfit with embroidered patterns, and a large yellow hat. Senator Floyd Morris and Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport, Fenton Ferguson, wore daring red suits, but most other parliamentarians were content in their dark blue suits for the day's proceedings.
Flanked by police outriders and mounted cavalry, the limousine of Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke arrived to a fanfare of trumpets. He was greeted by Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, Chief of Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force. He then inspected the guard of honour, which stood ramrod-straight, looking resplendent in their bright red uniforms. The guard then performed the 'royal salute', and presented arms to the Governor-General. After the inspection was complete, the soldiers then wowed the crowd as they marched up Duke Street, the tramp of their shining shoes echoing on the pavement in time to the drum beats.
The crowd that came out to view the proceedings was relatively small and sedate when compared with previous years, and there were no verbal clashes between opposing party supporters. There was a strong contingent of police officers on hand to handle the crowd and traffic.
Members of the judiciary, the diplomatic corps, trade unions, business sector, judiciary and the voluntary and public sectors attended the ceremonial opening.
