Pride and joy filled the air as Jamaica opened its first parliament. The prime minister and leader of the Opposition delivered historic speeches. The Queen's representative, Princess Margaret, captivated the parliament with a very engaging message from the Queen.

Published Wednesday, August 8, 1962

JAMAICA CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE

-Princess opens first parliament

-Her Royal Highness in Throne Speech:

-UK and Jamaica wish to maintain bonds of friendship

THE FIRST PARLIAMENT of the independent Jamaica, summoned to a joint sitting by proclamation of Her Majesty the Queen, was opened in state at Gordon House yesterday morning by the Queen’s sister, Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret,

before a full house of newly created senators and members of the House of Representatives and a glittering gathering of dignitaries from home and abroad.

Princess Margaret read the Speech from the Throne in a clear musical voice, and, with the assembly standing, read the Queen’s personal message.

In her message, the Queen recalled her visit to Jamaica some years ago and added “ It is with every good wish for the future that I warmly welcome Jamaica to the Commonwealth Family of Nations.”

Her Royal Highness entered the legislative chamber of Gordon House on the arm of her husband, Earl of Snowdon, and smiled at the legislature as she walked up the aisle to take her seat on the red-carpeted dais.

Multi-coloured

Her dress was of stiff white satin with the fitted bodice and the side panels of the bouffant skirt embellished in an embroidered crescent of diamonds, pearls and silver.

The royal gown gleaned from the medals of her orders and decorations which included the blue cash of the Royal Victorian Order. Her tiara and necklace were pearls and silver.

In the distinguished visitor's gallery, the multi-coloured robes of delegates from Ghana and Nigeria, and the golden robe of the delegate from Ceylon contrasted sharply with the formal greys and blacks of the representatives of European powers and the United States and the Jamaicans and West Indians.

Seated nearest the Bar in the places of honour were Mr Lyndon Johnson, vice-president of the United States, and, opposite him, Mr Hugh Fraser, minister of aviation in the British Government and a former colonel-affairs-under-secretary.

Said Princess Margaret to the assembled Parliament, on behalf of the Queen:

“My Government in the United Kingdom has laid down its responsibilities and has ceased to have any authority in and over Jamaica after more than 300 years of close association with the island and her people.

But both my Government in the United Kingdom and my Government in Jamaica wish to maintain those bonds of friendship which have existed for over three centuries and have made it possible for Jamaica to proceed to independence peacefully and happily.

The Throne Speech added that, with the attainment of Independence, the Government of Jamaica has assumed responsibility for the management of foreign affairs and Commonwealth relations, and for the defence of Jamaica.

The speech expressed the deep appreciation and pride of the Government of Jamaica for acceptance by the Commonwealth, prime ministers of Jamaica as a member of the Commonwealth.

“It will be my Government’s constant aim to develop still further its existing ties with the Commonwealth and to play its part in helping to live up to the aims for which the Commonwealth stands - freedom, cooperation and progress" she read.

The Throne Speech referred to the continuing problem of finding adequate employment opportunities, particularly for young Jamaicans, as one of the serious challenges the Government faced, and pointed to the preparation of a comprehensive plan, designed to further development.

The speech concluded with congratulations to Jamaica’s leaders who guided the country so well in the past, and good wishes to the Parliament.

Long before the royal party was due to set out for King’s House, crowds lined the route, they were thickest in the vicinity of Gordon House where a guard-of-honour of the First Battalion, the Jamaica Regiment, was in position.

One thousand Jamaicans also celebrated at the Guidhall on Monday night.

There were celebrations in Toronto, in Havana in New York, and other parts of the United States, and wherever a Jamaican community exists.

As a climax in the celebrations, it was announced last night that Jamaica had applied to join the United Nations.

Scarlet robes

Guests were seated outside the Bar on the floor of the chamber and in the galleries.

The judges made a colourful picture as, in their scarlet robes and full-bottomed wigs, they filled in headed by the Chief Justice, the Hon Sir Colin MacGregor.

Members of the Senate, led by the President, the Hon C.C. Campbell, and of the House of Representatives, led by the bewigged Speaker, the Hon Tacius Golding, then came in and took their places to hear the proclamation summoning Parliament read by the clerk, Mr Dossy Carberry.

The Lord Bishop of Jamaica, the Rt Rev Percival Gibson, then led the assembly in prayers and blessed the new Parliament.

Then came the great moment as the princess entered the chamber escorted by Lord Snowdon and preceded by the Sergeant at Arms.

They were followed by His Excellency the Governor General Sir Kenneth Blackburne and Lady Blackburne and other members of the royal party.

To the sound of fanfare, they were received at the Bar of the House by the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives, then they moved in procession to the dais.

When they were seated, Mr Carberry read the Letters Patent under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet empowering the princess to open the First Parliament of Jamaica. The document rested on an open red case containing the Great Seal.

The Hon Sir Alexander Bustamante, prime minister, then rose and mounted the dais to hand her the Queen's Speech which she read …

Sir Alexander resigned to the dais to receive it from the princess and handed it to the clerk.

The assembly then rose to hear the personal message from Her Majesty the Queen.

When the princess had completed this, she declared her intention to present the constitutional instruments to the prime minister, who returned to the dais to receive it.

Sir Alexander then made his first speech as prime minister, thanking the Queen for her message.

Memorable

“I speak for all in Jamaica when I say that we are extremely happy that Her Royal Highness has been able to be present on this great occasion to represent Her Majesty, Sir Alexander said.

He added: “I am deeply honoured that it has fallen to me to receive today from the hand of Her Royal Highness the constitutional instruments which are the symbol of our independence.”

Seconding the address of thanks, the Leader of the Opposition Mr Norman Manley referred to “this memorable first meeting of the Parliament of independent Jamaica” and joined in expressing the pleasure it had given Jamaicans to have Princess Margaret “no stranger to Jamaica but an old friend to be with us to represent Her Majesty the Queen”.

Mr Manley affirmed that Jamaica had come to independence prepared and ready to shoulder her new responsibilities and he believed “united in a single hope that they might make their small country a safe and happy home for all the people".

He believed that, as an independent people, Jamaicans could so manage themselves as to demonstrate one day how, by making their great motto 'Out of Many One People' come to speak the truth about themselves, they could become a worthwhile and shining example of the sort of world men sometimes dreamed to live in.

Loud applause from the gathering followed Mr Manley’s speech.

With the ceremony over, Princess Margaret and the royal party left the chamber to return to King’s House and the members of Jamaica’s First Parliament left to continue the Independence celebrations.

Queen’s message:

I warmly welcome Jamaica to the Commonwealth

In a personal message to the Jamaican people read by Princess Margaret at the state opening of Parliament yesterday, Her Majesty the Queen said she was sure that Jamaica would have a vital contribution to make to the cause of fuller cooperation, understanding the tolerance far beyond the immediate area of the world in which the island is situated.

Text of the Queen’s message follows:

“I have it in command of The Queen to read you the following message from Her Majesty to her People in Jamaica.

“I am very happy that my sister should be my personal representative at the celebrations to commemorate the independence of your country.

“I remember well my visit some years ago to your lovely island and the waves, welcome which you gave to me. My sister, who has also visited you before, has, I know, greatly looked forward to being with you as on this … in Jamaica’s history.

“It is with every good wish for the future that I warmly welcome Jamaica to the Commonwealth Family of Nations. I am sure that your country, which has already given an example to the world of how people of many varied origins and traditions may live together in harmony, will have a vital contribution to make to the cause of fuller cooperation, understanding and tolerance far beyond the immediate area of the world in which it is situated.

“I pray that God will bless and keep your country in all the years that lie ahead”.

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