Members of the media were all smiles yesterday at the official opening of a dedicated press room at the House of Assembly.

Chairman of the House and Grounds committee Walter Lister explained that the facility had been in the works for a number of years.

The room is located in one of the towers of the House, one flight of steps up from the visitors' gallery and press box area of the chamber.

House Speaker Stanley Lowe said the room had undergone a "wonderful transformation" from an old storage area.

It is yet to be equipped with telephones and Internet access, although communications facilities are in the pipeline. For the moment the airy room has a comfortable couch and hard-backed chairs and a table.

Mr. Lowe praised Mr. Lister as the "driving force" behind the project.

"We know they (journalists) spend as much time in the House as Members of the House," he said. "This is just the beginning."

Chris Lodge, News Director of VSB television, recalled days when the press corps used to fight over telephones at the House with parliamentarians.