Bob Marley’s Coming In From The Cold blared from loudspeakers mounted strategically around the lawn at King’s House as Orette Bruce Golding and his wife Lorna descended the steps at the historic house. It was a fitting song for the man whose 18 years in Opposition ended yesterday when he was sworn-in as Jamaica’s eighth prime minister before hundreds of dignitaries and cheering, bell-ringing supporters.

The hot sun did not dry the crowd’s spirits as they punctuated Golding’s first speech as prime minister with cheers, applause and whistles.

Some very jubilant Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters adorned in green attire shouted “Shower” in agreement as Golding took the Oath of Allegiance and of the Oath of Office.

Before long, the official ceremony was transformed into a holy spirit-filled church service as gospel performer Shakira Marner did a solo, paving the way for the Christian group Martin’s Heritage. Immediately, they broke out into a medley of lively gospel choruses before ending with the song His Love Will Carry Me All The way.

Many persons in the audience entered a worship mode with upraised hands and shouts of “Hallelujah”.

In March last year, Portia Simpson Miller, at her inauguration as prime minister, opened her address with a prayer.

Yesterday, Golding ended his speech with one, which, he said, was given to him by Mitzie Seaga, the ex-wife of former Prime Minister Edward Seaga.

From as early as 1:30 pm people started taking their seats, even as decorators busied themselves with last-minute touches to the stage. Ushers re-checked seating arrangements and labelled chairs to ensure no surprises.

A few minutes after 3:00 pm, former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller arrived alone, walked through the audience without any fanfare and took a seat in the front row.

The Observer was told that Simpson Miller had declined to sit on the platform as was indicated in the programme.

Other members of her People’s National Party in attendance included Donald Buchanan, Lisa Hanna, Fitz Jackson, Dr Omar Davies and Dr Peter Phillips.

Among the other local officials were former prime ministers P J Patterson and Edward Seaga, his wife Carla, and former Governor-General Howard Cooke.

At the end of the ceremony, security personnel were hard pressed to keep the crowd from Golding, as they converged downstairs, waiting on him to emerge from a private room where he was taking pictures with family members and other officials. No amount of pleading from the police could move them as they insisted they wanted to greet him.

“A fi we Bruce this,” said a resident of Tivoli Gardens.

“Uno going to have him to unuself a town all the while and a country we come from so meck we see him,” said an elderly lady as she joined in with the jubilant chanting of “Bruce”, “Bruce”.

“A fi we time again because a 18 years we deh a road,” shouted a man.

“We will work hard and build we country now, so mek them come out,” said one woman.

“The driver drive good, him no crash,” said yet another woman as she took a sip from a bottle of Heineken.

Golding told journalists that as soon as the Cabinet is chosen some time this week, he would be requesting a meeting with Simpson Miller.