Behind the Parliamentary Pageantry…The Opening of Parliament

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – With the Opening of Parliament just one day away, preparations are in full swing behind the scenes, where many Bahamians will see the ceremonial procession, the fashion and fanfare.

However, former house clerk, Maurice Tynes, says there’s an entire operation happening long before the first member ever takes their seat.

Tynes explains that one of the first tasks this year was making room for the country’s newly expanded Parliament.

Maurice Tynes – Former House Clerk

“You know, after since the Boundaries Commission, they increased the number of seats to 41. So the first thing we have to do is to ensure that we have 41 chairs around the table so we can accommodate everyone.”

However, he says the preparation goes far beyond seating arrangements, with staff responsible for organizing the day’s official agenda, preparing oaths, and ensuring all procedures follow parliamentary rules.

Maurice Tynes – Former House Clerk

“The staff has to prepare the agenda for the house that day, which will include the swearing-in of members. All the members have to be sworn in, you have to take the oath of office, and the clerk will either draft a speech for the speaker or the speaker will draft their own, or someone [else will]. [Then] the clerk would normally read the copy to make sure it complies with the rules of the house.”

With this year’s opening coming just days after the general election, Tynes says the timeline for preparation has been much tighter than usual.

Maurice Tynes – Former House Clerk

“I noticed that this year’s opening is quite close to the election date. Normally, they would have two or three weeks in between, but this year it’s the next week after the elections. So they would have to have their preparations done in advance.”

Now, with the chance of the event being held away from its traditional Parliament Square location, officials have the additional task of transforming the new venue into a functioning Parliament chamber.

Meanwhile, Tynes shares one of his biggest moments to look out for:

Maurice Tynes – Former House Clerk

“The question is, who’s going to be the speaker? You know, you get a pretty good idea a day or two before, but you know…if you’re wondering if you have the same speaker, if the person is re-elected, you wonder how the new members [are going to be], are they going to have a good relationship with you? You know, those kind of things come through your mind.”

With final preparations underway, all eyes turn to Wednesday’s Opening of Parliament, a ceremony that marks the official start of a new legislative term.