celebration for the people For the first time in memory, this year's ceremony marking the Opening of Parliament will be held on the lawns of the Cabinet Building -- not inside the hallowed walls of the Senate Chamber.

Thus, Friday's official launch of the legislature will afford the public a unique opportunity to witness with their own eyes all the history and traditions associated with Opening of Parliament.

Usually much of the ceremony is conducted out of public view, inside the elegantly appointed Senate Chamber with only Members of Parliament, their spouses and special VIP guests watching the proceedings.

But this year -- Bermuda's last Parliamentary session of the 20th century -- will be opened on the sprawling grounds of the Cabinet Building on Front Street.

The ceremony will get underway at approximately 10.30 a.m. when members of the Senate gather in their upper Chamber. Ten minutes later the President of the Senate, Olf Oughton, will lead the Senators onto the Cabinet Office lawn.

At around 10.45 a.m. the Governor, Thorold Masefield and his wife Jennifer will arrive via open landau at the Cabinet Office. Mr. Masefield will then receive a Royal salute and inspect the Guard of Honour.

The Guard of Honour consists of soldiers from the Bermuda Regiment. In the centre of the Guards is the Colour Party who will be carrying two flags known in military circles as Colours.

On the right, will be the Queen's Colour which represent the Bermuda Regiment's allegiance to the Crown.

The Regimental Colours will be on the left and is mostly blue with a laurel of thistles in the centre. Within the thistles are crossed gun barrels with a Maltese Cross over them which represents the two units which form the Bermuda Regiment.

On 1965, the Bermuda Militia Artillery (the gun barrels) and the Bermuda Rifles (the Maltese Cross) were almagamated.

Above this unifying motif of the almagamated Bermuda Regiment rests a crown.

Once the Governor has completed inspecting the Guard of Honour, he will then dispatch his messenger, the Black Rod, to summon the members of Parliament from the House of Assembly by saying:"Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, I Command you to inform the Speaker of the House of Assembly that I request the presence of his Honourable House forthwith.'' The Black Rod, itself, is a symbol of authority of the Head of State and is carried by a senior Police Officer.

The 26 Progressive Labour Party and the 14 United Bermuda Party MP's, who will have gathered inside the upper house by 10.45 a.m., will then make their way down the steps of the Legislature, cross Reid Street and come around the southeast corner of the Cabinet Office.

The Black Rod will lead the procession, followed by the Sergeant-At-Arms, the Clerk to the Legislature and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Stanley Lowe. The Premier, Jennifer Smith, and the Opposition Leader, Pamela Gordon, will follow behind the Speaker.

The group will join the senators and invited guests on the Cabinet lawn for a prayer before the reading of the Throne Speech by the Governor.

Premier Smith presents the Governor with two copies of the Throne Speech, one for him to read, the other is held by the Aide-de-Camp, Capt. Wayne Smith.

Along with signifying the reconvening of Parliament, the Throne Speech outlines the Government's legislative programme for the new session of Parliament.

Bermuda has had a Parliamentary system of Government since 1620, making it the oldest Parliament outside of the UK. The first assembly met in St. George's.

Upon completing the speech, Mr. Masefield will collect the second copy of the Throne Speech from his ADC and then present one copy to the Speaker and the other to the President of the Senate.

The MP's will then return to the House of Assembly to get down to work, the Governor will return by landau to Government House and the Bermuda Regiment Band, the Corps of Drums and the Guard of Honour will parade through the streets of Hamilton.

Looking sharp: The Governor, Thorold Masefield, inspects a Bermuda regiment Honour Guard during last year's Opening of Parliament.

His Excellency the Governor reads last year's Speech From the Throne. This year's reading will be held in public, on the grounds of the Cabinet Office.

The Black Rod is a symbol of Royal authority and is carried by a Senior Police officer.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOA