Duke Street Comes Alive with Colour and Tradition for Ceremonial Opening of Parliament

Duke Street in downtown Kingston was transformed into a vibrant display of military precision and political tradition for the Ceremonial Opening of Parliament on Thursday (February 12).

The highly rehearsed ceremony, with synchronised marching, drill exhibitions, royal salutes by members of the military dressed in their full regalia, and inspection of the Guard of Honour by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, remains a source of fascination for both first-time observers and repeat attendees.

However, it is the march of the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Cabinet Ministers and Opposition members into Gordon House that remains the most anticipated feature of the event.

Dressed in their finest, the politicians walk from either end of Duke Street to the seat of Government, cheered on by supporters, many of whom are adorned in political colours.

One female onlooker told JIS News that over the years she would watch the ceremony on television but, she opted to see it in person this year.

“This year, I just felt like I wanted to see it for real and not on TV as I have done over the years. To see what our Parliamentarians look like, see the uniformed groups, I like that kind of thing. The marching and all of that is one of the main reasons why I am here,” she said.

Meanwhile, staff from the nearby Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) shared that each year the pageantry and the traditions are what pull them from their desks.

An employee, who brought her sons, said she was disappointed that there were not more school children in attendance. Schools within the vicinity of Gordon House have closed for the day.

The JNHT team member said it felt like a missed opportunity for a civics lesson, which would align with the Government’s push to reintroduce the subject in schools.

“The children need to be here, this is a part of our culture, this is a part of their learning and they need to see it; they need to be a part of it. I have seen them, they have always been so overjoyed… and the leaders also would be very engaging with the children,” she told JIS News.

Dwayne Harris, a regular attendee of the ceremony, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the inspirational value of the event.

“I have been here and the leaders come and they greet the children and they will never forget that; it will inspire them for the rest of their lives,” she told JIS News.

Grade-two St. Aloysius Primary School student, Ari-Jae, who was among the few students in attendance, was able to identify some of the nation’s leaders excitedly noting, “I love the marching, and I saw the Chief Justice and the Prime Minister.”

Her mother, Rochelle Roberts, expressed the hope that next year more children will be able to experience the ceremonial proceedings.

“The significance would show more if they invited children and maybe have educational talks. They could come [to Parliament] maybe another day and they could explain the importance of it,” she reasoned.

The ceremonial opening of Parliament signifies the beginning of the new legislative year.