PROFESSOR Kenneth Hall will take office on February 15 as Jamaica’s fifth governor general, Prime Minister P J Patterson announced yesterday.

Patterson’s announcement at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House confirmed yesterday’s report in the Observer that Hall had received the nod to succeed Sir Howard Cooke, who announced his retirement recently, after 15 years as the country’s head of state.

However, the announcement has been clouded by a controversy triggered by the failure of Prime Minister Patterson to consult Leader of the Opposition Bruce Golding on the issue.

Patterson told yesterday’s briefing that the Queen has acknowledged Sir Howard’s service since 1991 and his request to be retired.

“.In accordance with tradition and precedence, I have submitted, with the support of the Cabinet of Jamaica, a request that the Queen should see fit to appoint as her representative, Professor the Honourable Kenneth Hall,” Patterson told reporters.

He said that the Queen has indicated her acceptance of that recommendation, and the new governor general will be sworn in by his predecessor at a ceremony at King’s House on February 15, commencing at 5:00 pm.

“We are delighted that we have been able to identify someone so eminently suited for this task, to take on the responsibility as governor general of Jamaica, at this time,” Patterson added.

Asked whether he had consulted with the Opposition, the Prime Minister would only say, “I think the Opposition will indicate its position in due course”.

He said the Constitution requires that the advice has to be tendered by the Prime Minister with the support of his Cabinet.”and I have complied with that”.

Opposition Leader Bruce Golding was out of town attending a conference of JLP mayors in St Ann and was not available for comment. But the party’s information spokesman, Senator Dwight Nelson, who spoke on behalf of the party, condemned the way the prime minister had handled the selection process.

Senator Nelson noted that at no time was the Opposition consulted in the process. He said that the JLP was concerned that while the Constitution requires only the support of the Cabinet to enable the prime minister to make the nomination, it had been the practice in the past to consult with the Leader of the Opposition in advance.

The JLP, Senator Nelson said, would be seeking to have the Constitution amended to ensure that in the future the prime minister will have to consult with the Opposition prior to making the nomination.

Last night, at least one prominent civic body, the Farquharson Institute of Public Affairs (FIPA), welcomed the decision to choose Hall as a good step for the country, in terms of departing from the tradition of appointing politicians as governors general, and wished Professor Hall success in his new job.

Born in Lucea, Hanover on April 24, 1941, to parents Harry and Beatrice Hall, Professor Hall is currently the pro vice-chancellor and principal of the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies. He has headed the Mona campus since 1996.

A Jamaican, he graduated from the University of the West Indies, Mona in 1966 with a Bachelor’s degree in history. He subsequently obtained a post-graduate diploma in international relations from the Institute of International Relations at the UWI’s St Augustine campus and Master’s of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in history from Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada.

He has lectured in history at UWI, Mona, and was professor of history at State University of New York.

Hall returned to the Caribbean to work in 1994, when he was appointed deputy secretary general of Caricom, holding that job until his appointment to the University of the West Indies.

He also published books and articles on issues relating to history and international relations. Among his most recent publication is Caribbean Imperatives: Regional Governance and Integrated Development and Governance.

His wife is Rema Holding-Hall, senior research fellow at the Alister McIntyre Centre at UWI.

Sir Howard has been Governor General since August 1, 1991. Born in Goodwill, St James, in 1915, he entered politics in 1938 as a member of the People’s National Party (PNP), and has served in both the Jamaican and the short-lived Federal Parliament of the West Indies.

He served in the Jamaican Senate between 1962 and 1967, and was elected Member of Parliament between 1967 and 1980. He served as minister of government between 1972 and 1980 in several portfolios, including that of minister of education.

balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com