Parliament reopens today with national focus centred on the swearing-in of Senators and Members of Parliament who will take their respective seats in the Upper and Lower houses.

In what is expected to be a vibrant legislative year, the Bruce Golding-led Government and the Opposition, under the leadership of Portia Simpson Miller, are gearing up to debate a number of far-reaching pieces of legislation, including constitutional amendments.

Dignitaries to attend

Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall; Chief Justice Zaila McCalla; Political Ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair; Public Defender Earl Witter, and Director of Public Prosecutions Kent Pantry are scheduled to be among the scores of dignitaries in attendance.

The ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the swearing-in of the 13 Government and eight Opposition Senators. At the end of the exercise, the Lower House will invite their colleagues from the Senate to witness the swearing-in of its members.