Marlon Vickerman, Features Writer

Prime Minister Bruce Golding (left), Derrick Smith (centre), Minister of National Security, and other members of the Cabinet, make their way to George William Gordon House for the opening of Parliament yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Students from the New Hope Preparatory School were perhaps the only ones who remained quiet on Duke Street yesterday when the nation's politicians entered Gordon House.

Vilma Ferguson, principal of the school, said the students were brought out to get a more "realistic" view of the island's current affairs.

"The move here today (yesterday) is to sensitise the students as to what is happening in the country, allowing them to almost identify themselves with what is currently going on and to actually see things on a wider perspective," she said.

"The GSAT candidates will be doing social studies, so we wanted to make it more realistic, more practical, because we teach them about important buildings and persons in their community, so today, they got the chance to see some of those persons and Gordon House as well."

He came to see the Prime Minister

When asked if he understood why he was at Parliament and not in school, fourth-grade student Shane Norris said he came to see the Prime Minister.

Another fourth grader, Davion Hue said: "That building over there is the George William Gordon House and politicians meet in there to discuss issues and talk about politics in the country. We just came to see them."

Young Davion's response triggered a chain reaction in the other students, who all started to voice their knowledge of the day's events.

As the children spoke, there was excitement in the air. Dozens of supporters from both political parties turned out to cheer their representatives on. At the upper section of Duke Street, supporters of the Jamaica Labour Party waved green flags in the air. At the other end of the road, orange and yellow-clad People's National Party supporters were more sombre, swaying their bodies to My Father Born Yah and occasionally waving their flags bearing the party's sunrise logo.

Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force form a human shield to prevent party supporters from clashing along Duke Street after yesterday's swearing-in ceremony and opening of the new session of Parliament. - photos by Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

People's National Party (PNP) Senator Sandra Falconer takes the oath of office during yesterday's first session of Parliament since the general election. Falconer is a first time senator. At right is Clerk of the House, Heather Cooke. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer