appointed Opposition chief by Governor Lord Waddington.

Dressed in PLP green and watched by beaming mother Lillian, 83, Ms Smith was given a formal document recognising her position at a ceremony at Government House.

Mrs. Smith said after the ceremony: "I'm very proud of her -- she's done very well.

"I know a lot of men wanted the position and I figured they would get it.'' Mrs. Smith added: "Jennifer likes politics. It's not an easy post -- it's a hard job, physically and mentally, but she'll cope.'' Lord Waddington admitted the last official appointment of an Opposition leader was so long ago that there were no Government House records on how it was done.

He said: "It's an office provided for under the Constitution so it's right, therefore, that there should be a formal appointment.

"We have no records as to precisely how it's done, but the formal document was drafted by the Attorney General's Chambers.'' Ms Smith -- who triumphed in the PLP leadership race last week after the sudden death of long-time leader Frederick Wade -- admitted she was still coming to terms with her new role.

She said: "I feel it's starting to sink in now. I've been too busy to contemplate the enormity of the responsibility because I've been working on the details of the responsibility, which is probably a good thing.''