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A new marshal, new members, a newly painted wall of George William Gordon House heralded the resumption of the sittings of the bi-cameral democracy practised by Jamaica since it received independence from Britain in 1962.
The new marshal, Kevin Williams, oversaw proceedings in both the House of Representatives and Senate when he brought the Mace, which signified the validity of the day's proceedings.
Members of the Senate were the first set to take the Oath of Allegiance following the December 29 general election.
Newly appointed Government Senator Imani Duncan Price made an embarrassing entrance, tripping in the middle of the aisle as she made her way to her designated seating area.
Surprised, and rising as quickly as she fell, the former Miss Jamaica and daughter of veteran politician Dr D.K. Duncan did not cause attention to be drawn to her. Instead she went to her seat, and composed herself quickly.
When the Senate was adjourned for a date to be fixed, one young man, newly elected Member of Parliament Damion Crawford took centre stage when the House met. The dreadlocked Crawford, who after taking the oath of allegiance greeted Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, turned in the direction of the Opposition benches and flashed a military-like salute to Opposition Leader Andrew Holness.
Roger's day
No sooner than he had done that, Roger Clarke exclaimed, "Jah!" which caused more cheers and laughter from members from both sides.
In fact, it was Clarke's day. When his name was called by Clerk to the Houses of Parliament, Heather Cooke, for him to take the oath of allegiance, he said, to the amusement of the Parliament, "dis a fi me an Marlene (Malahoo Forte)", whom he defeated in the election.
Clarke then embraced Malahoo Forte, who was seated in the bar of the House and kissed her. He also had the House in stitches when he exclaimed, "what a whole heap a young people," in reference the large number of young Government members in the House.
The PNP was criticised in the last Parliament for having a lot of aged campaigners in the House, and Holness, 39, was heralded into the leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party to demonstrate youthfulness.
"Yuh si who defend youth now," Clarke said, a comment which left Opposition MP Karl Samuda laughing.
Other young MPs who evoked much applause were the PNP's Hugh Buchanan, Julian Robinson, Raymond Pryce and Jolyan Silvera.
"Hear, hear," a Government member shouted as Buchanan moved to take his oath. The chant is associated with Buchanan's late father, Donald (Danny Buck) Buchanan.
A hug for tufton
Hugh, egged on by Government members, crossed the aisle and embraced Tufton, whom he beat, much to the amusement of the Parliament.
Minutes later, Silvera took the oath and then moved to embrace Robert Montague, the man he deposed in West St Mary.
"Bobby, the JEEP overtake the Audi," Luther Buchanan shouted as Silvera greeted him.
Montague had made fun of the PNP's proposed Jamaica Emergency Employment Pro-gramme (JEEP), saying he was moving to establish a programme called Audi.
The new marshal, Kevin Williams, oversaw proceedings in both the House of Representatives and Senate when he brought the Mace, which signified the validity of the day's proceedings.
Members of the Senate were the first set to take the Oath of Allegiance following the December 29 general election.
Newly appointed Government Senator Imani Duncan Price made an embarrassing entrance, tripping in the middle of the aisle as she made her way to her designated seating area.
Surprised, and rising as quickly as she fell, the former Miss Jamaica and daughter of veteran politician Dr D.K. Duncan did not cause attention to be drawn to her. Instead she went to her seat, and composed herself quickly.
When the Senate was adjourned for a date to be fixed, one young man, newly elected Member of Parliament Damion Crawford took centre stage when the House met. The dreadlocked Crawford, who after taking the oath of allegiance greeted Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, turned in the direction of the Opposition benches and flashed a military-like salute to Opposition Leader Andrew Holness.
Roger's day
No sooner than he had done that, Roger Clarke exclaimed, "Jah!" which caused more cheers and laughter from members from both sides.
In fact, it was Clarke's day. When his name was called by Clerk to the Houses of Parliament, Heather Cooke, for him to take the oath of allegiance, he said, to the amusement of the Parliament, "dis a fi me an Marlene (Malahoo Forte)", whom he defeated in the election.
Clarke then embraced Malahoo Forte, who was seated in the bar of the House and kissed her. He also had the House in stitches when he exclaimed, "what a whole heap a young people," in reference the large number of young Government members in the House.
The PNP was criticised in the last Parliament for having a lot of aged campaigners in the House, and Holness, 39, was heralded into the leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party to demonstrate youthfulness.
"Yuh si who defend youth now," Clarke said, a comment which left Opposition MP Karl Samuda laughing.
Other young MPs who evoked much applause were the PNP's Hugh Buchanan, Julian Robinson, Raymond Pryce and Jolyan Silvera.
"Hear, hear," a Government member shouted as Buchanan moved to take his oath. The chant is associated with Buchanan's late father, Donald (Danny Buck) Buchanan.
A hug for tufton
Hugh, egged on by Government members, crossed the aisle and embraced Tufton, whom he beat, much to the amusement of the Parliament.
Minutes later, Silvera took the oath and then moved to embrace Robert Montague, the man he deposed in West St Mary.
"Bobby, the JEEP overtake the Audi," Luther Buchanan shouted as Silvera greeted him.
Montague had made fun of the PNP's proposed Jamaica Emergency Employment Pro-gramme (JEEP), saying he was moving to establish a programme called Audi.