Jamaica’s Parliament is set to welcome its 10 newly elected Members of the House of Representatives with an official Orientation Day at Gordon House on Tuesday, September 30. This event marks a pivotal step in preparing the newcomers for their legislative roles. Among the new MPs, nine were elected under the People’s National Party banner during the September 3 General Election, while one represents the Jamaica Labour Party. The orientation aims to equip the members with a comprehensive understanding of parliamentary operations and the support services available to them. Key sessions will feature presentations from the clerk, the marshal, and representatives from critical departments such as human resources, accounts, Hansard, the legal counsel’s office, and communications. Additionally, the event will familiarize the new MPs with the physical layout of Gordon House and the JMEA Annex, including the Chamber, conference rooms, library, and members’ lounge. Practical arrangements, such as HR and accounts consultations, ID processing, and official portrait photography, will ensure the MPs are fully prepared for their duties from the outset. Floyd Green, Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives, emphasized the significance of the orientation, stating, “For our new members, orientation is about laying the groundwork for service. They are stepping into Parliament at a critical time for Jamaica, and it’s essential they have the tools, knowledge, and support to hit the ground running.” Green also highlighted ongoing efforts to finalize the membership of select sessional committees to ensure they can commence work immediately after the House’s first sitting. Notably, the tradition of Opposition members chairing all sessional committees, established in 2007 by former Prime Minister Bruce Golding, was overturned in 2020 by Prime Minister Andrew Holness. Since then, only the Public Accounts Committee and Public Administration and Appropriations Committee remain under Opposition leadership. Opposition Leader Mark Golding reiterated his dissent against this change during the swearing-in ceremony of new MPs on September 18.