The Most Honourable Professor Sir Kenneth Octavius Hall, ON, GCMG, OJ
Former Governor-General of Jamaica

The Most Honourable Professor Sir Kenneth Octavius Hall, ON, GCMG, OJ, was appointed Governor-General of Jamaica on 16 February 2006. He is the fifth person, and fourth Jamaican, to hold this position since Independence in 1962.  He is currently a Honorary Distinguished Fellow of the Mona School of Business, at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies.

Early life and education

Hall was born on 24 April 1941in Lucea, Jamaica. Professor Sir Kenneth Hall holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in History from the Queen's University in Ontario, Canada.

Career

His has a career that spans over four decades and one that has blazed a trail of excellence in the field of Education both in Jamaica and the United States. He is also renowned for his contribution to advancement of the regional integration process, during his tenure at the CARICOM Secretariat from 1975-1977 and again, between 1994 and 1996.

Prior to assuming his position as Governor-General, Professor Kenneth Hall was Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. During the ten years (1996-2006) at the UWI, the policies he implemented resulted in a significant transformation in academic programmes, physical infrastructure and in student relations on the Campus. He was zealous in his efforts to establish an environment that was conducive to learning; and one that was supported heavily by information and communication technologies.

Professor Hall is a prolific writer and has published several books, articles and reviews on issues relating to History and International Relations. His most recent publications have included "Integration CARICOM's Key to Prosperity"; "Production Integration in CARICOM: From Theory to Action"; "Rex N: Rex Nettleford Selected Speeches"; "Integrate or Perish! Perspectives of Leaders of the Integration Movement 1963-2002", and "Governance in the Age of Globalisation".

As Governor-General, Professor Sir Kenneth Hall used his office to build national consensus on issues such as youth and education, and the importance of recognizing and rewarding excellence. He is also committed to promoting the importance of a robust moral order and strong civic culture as the essential pillars of social and economic progress.  He combined his interest in young people and the promotion of excellence to establish the Governor-General's Youth Award for Excellence Programme which complements the existing Governor-General's Achievement Awards.

Honours and awards

In 2004, the Government of Jamaica conferred upon him the Order of Jamaica for significant contribution to education and regional development. He was conferred with Jamaica's second highest National Honour, the Order of the Nation, on the occasion of his swearing in. A year and eight months after being appointed Jamaica's fifth governor-general, Hall was appointed GCMG on 6 November 2007, and received the insignia from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on 30 May 2008.