Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter
Left: Entertainment personality Christine Hewitt (standing) celebrates in the midst of the huge gathering present for yesterday's swearing-in of Portia Simpson Miller as Prime Minister of Jamaica at King's House.
Right: Former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson (right) hands his letter of resignation to Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall yesterday at King's House. Looking on from left are: Hazel Manning, wife of Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago; Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller; Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Partially hidden is Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THERE WAS seldom a dull moment and quite a few teary-eyes, as the woman who hails from a tiny community in deep rural St. Catherine, assumed the nation's highest political office yesterday.
The atmosphere at King's House as Portia Simpson Miller took the oath of office, making her Jamaica's seventh Prime Minister, was so filled with excitement and anticipation, that at times, it felt more like a jamboree. A woman-led jamboree, that is.
From the minute guests and well-wishers started turning up at the venue, it was clear that this was no ordinary day.
A STEADY STREAM OF DIGNITARIES
Things got under way about 4:30 p.m. with a steady stream of dignitaries making their way onto the grounds of King's House. This was quite a treat for many of the other attendees, who stared and pointed every time a familiar face showed up. Among the more recognisable mugs were those of Louis Farrakhan, Head of the Nation of Islam; Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados; Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago; and Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The crowd waited patiently for the ceremony to begin, even as the afternoon sun pelted foreheads and newly-established hair-dos.
For his part, former Cabinet member K.D. Knight, whose top-hat was something of a conversation piece, sweated quite a lot throughout the ceremony. This caused quite a commotion when his image was displayed on a big screen at the back of the venue. Those who weren't laughing, hurled unflattering remarks at the former minister. This threatened to disrupt the proceedings more than once, but did not.
Minister Farrakhan took on double duty at the event, becoming something of a crowd director. Every time the Muslim leader got excited about something a speaker was saying, which seemed to be quite often, he would stand and start applauding. The rest of the audience would then follow. Minister Farrakhan initiated a standing ovation on more than five occasions.
The proceedings went on smoothly until the big moment finally arrived. As Mrs. Simpson Miller took the oath of office, dozens of cellphones instantly went into the air, as members of the audience snapped pictures to record the historic event. Mrs. Simpson Miller's husband, Errald Miller, was all smiles as he watched his wife make the historic step.
When the deed was done and Mrs. Simpson Miller was for the first time introduced as Madam Prime Minister, the crowd went wild. Some waved their hands in the air, some screamed and cheered, while others simply stood and watched in silence.
