HUNDREDS of heads of government, top-level international diplomats, celebrities and media representatives are expected to converge on the lawns of King’s House tomorrow to witness the swearing-in of Jamaica’s first female prime minister, Portia Simpson Miller.

Officially, the guest list is 6,000, but the Jamaica Constabulary Force and planners of Simpson Miller’s inauguration anticipate that there will be many more people present.

“We are prepared to accommodate between 6,000 and 10,000 guests,” Commander Evert Taylor of the Jamaica Defence Force said at a press conference to announce plans and details of the day’s events.

Among dignitaries confirmed to attend are Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Owen Arthur of Barbados, Prime Minister Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago, Caricom Secretary-General Dr Edwin Carrington, chief minister of the Turks and Caicos, Dr Michael Eugene Misick, and delegations from Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas and Bermuda.

Organisers were yesterday awaiting confirmation from the newly elected women leaders of Chile and Liberia, Dr Michele Bachelet and Dr Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf respectively.

At the same time, Gary Foster, co-chair of the Prime Minister’s Inauguration Ball, told the Observer that among the celebrities confirmed are Rush Communications chairman Russell Simmonds and his wife Kimora Lee, Susan Taylor, Louis Farrakhan, Roberta Flack, Shirley Jackson and Freddy Jackson, who will perform at the inauguration ball.

Citing security concerns, the police refused to divulge whether or not the heads of state of Cuba and Venezuela would be attending, or information about who would officially represent the United States, saying only that a Congressional delegation of 14 led by Representative Charles Rangel would be in attendance.

However, Observer sources said that US Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice and Senator Hilary Clinton were invited.

At the same time, organisers of the swearing-in ceremony said persons who cannot attend the King’s House ceremony will have the opportunity to watch the event live on big screens at the Haile Selassie High School in Simpson Miller’s South West St Andrew constituency, and at Sam Sharpe Square in Montego Bay. The evening’s proceedings will also be broadcast live on national television, and streamed live on the Internet through the Jamaica Information Service’s website www.jis.gov.jm.

Yesterday, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Linval Bailey said there would be parking available for all persons attending the event. However, he said that due to limited options at King’s House, only cars with designated blue or red VIP stickers will be allowed through the main gates. All others persons should park on the open field adjacent to King’s House, entering on East King’s House Road. In the event of rain, parking will be available at the National Stadium parking lot, and the event will be scaled down to take place inside the King’s House ballroom, with attendees watching proceedings on big screens under tents on the grounds.

Other traffic changes, Bailey said, would be announced today.

The swearing-in ceremony, scheduled to begin at 5:00 pm, will start with Simpson Miller reciting the oath of office before Governor-General Kenneth Hall. Following the lowering of outgoing Prime Minister P J Patterson’s standard and the raising of Simpson Miller’s, there will be speeches by Patterson, Hall and Simpson Miller’s inaugural address.

These will be followed by musical presentations by the Jamaica Military Band and a combined choir of the University Singers, gospel artiste Shirley Willis and master saxophonist Dean Fraser.

The formalities will cease with the exchange of the prime minister’s car, in which the outgoing prime minister will symbolically exit the vehicle and hand it over to Simpson Miller, who will be driven around the grounds of King’s House before returning for a small reception.

After the swearing-in ceremony, Simpson Miller will visit her constituents at the Haile Selassie School, before attending a black-tie ball put on in her honour by a group of Jamaican-American supporters.

– Novia McDonald White contributed to this story