DEMOCRACY was at work with the ceremonial opening of the 13th Parliament at the Red House on May 23.

The opening, which represented the first parliamentary sittings since the April 28 general election, saw newly elected and appointed parliamentarians pledging to put country before any other interests as they got down to work.

Proceedings began promptly at 1.30 pm with the simultaneous reading of the proclamation by President Christine Kangaloo in the House and Senate, which met in separate chambers in the Red House, to declare the new parliamentary term open.