Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter
Outgoing Prime Minister P.J. Patterson (right) engages Prime Minister-designate Portia Simpson Miller in a conversation at a farewell dinner hosted in his honour by members of his Cabinet at Jamaica House earlier this week. - JIS
PORTIA SIMPSON Miller will today be officially sworn in as Jamaica's first female prime minister during a lavish ceremony to be held on the lawns of King's House.
Mrs. Simpson Miller will succeed P.J. Patterson, who has been Prime Minister for the past 14 years.
Mr. Patterson will today hand in his resignation to Governor-General, Professor Kenneth Hall.
HISTORIC EVENT
The historic event will begin at 5:00 p.m. and the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), in association with Emoquad and Cable and Wireless Jamaica Limited, will facilitate the web casting of the ceremony.
Interested parties can log on to the JIS website at www.jis.gov.jm, to see the live broadcast.
Among the 6,000 invited guests are regional leaders, Owen Arthur of Barbados, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago, and Michael Missick, Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Also confirmed to attend are Nation of Islam head, Louis Farrakhan, and 14 members of the United States Congress led by Congressman Charles Rangle.
Baroness Jan Royall of Blaisdon will represent the British Government at today's function.
PARKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CEREMONY
Only guests, who are in possession of a red or blue VIP sticker, will be allowed to park on the property.
All other guests must park on the open field on East King's House Road.
Motorists travelling from Matilda's Corner and going to King's House will be asked to turn on to Marley Road, exit on to East King's House Road and proceed to the car park.
Persons coming from Lady Musgrave Road are expected to proceed across the intersection at Hope Road and on to East King's House Road and enter the parking area.
In the event of rain and the field becomes saturated, guests will be asked to park at the National Stadium.
- log on to the JIS website at www.jis.gov.jm, to see the live broadcast.
