Sir Howard Cooke

. His Excellency the Most Honorable Sir Howard Felix Hanlan Cooke, ON GCMG GCVO CD was installed as Governor General of Jamaica at King’s House on Thursday, August 1, 1991.

. Born in Goodwill, St James in 1915, he is the son of David Brown Cooke and Mary Jane Minto.

He was educated at elementary and private schools, Mico College and London University.

On July 22, 1939, he married Ivy Sylvia Lucille Tai. The union produced two sons, Justice Howard Fitz-Arthur Cooke, Puisne Judge; and Richard Washington McDermott Cooke, hotelier; and one daughter, Audrey Faith Cooke, consultant in international affairs in Canada.

. Entered politics in 1938 as one of the founding members 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 has been a member of the PNP executive and the national executive, chairman of the regional executive and chairman. In 1958, he was elected to the West Indies Federal Parliament as the representative for St James.

. Served in the Jamaican Senate between 1962 and 1967, and was elected member of parliament between 1967 and 1980.

. Served as minister of government between 1972 and 1980 in several portfolios, including that of minister of education, pension and social security, and labour and the public service

. President of the Senate from 1989 to 1991 and served on the executive of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

. Taught for 23 years, starting at Mico College and Practising School. He later served as headmaster at Belle Castle All-Age School, Port Antonio Upper School, and Montego Bay Boys’ School. He was a member and former president of the Jamaica Union of Teachers.

. Served in the insurance industry in the following positions: senior inspector and branch manager, Standard Life Insurance Company; unit manager, Jamaica Mutual Life; branch manager, American Life Insurance Company.

AWARDS

. 1978 – Commander of Distinction

. 1980 – Special Plaque for Distinguished Service from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

. 1991 – Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) – conferred on him by Queen Elizabeth II.

. Order of the Nation (ON)

. 1994 – Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) – conferred on him by Queen Elizabeth II.

Professor Kenneth Hall

. Born in Lucea, Hanover on April 24, 1941, to parents Harry and Beatrice Hall.

. Wife is Rema Holding-Hall, senior research fellow at the Alister McIntyre Centre at the University of the West Indies (UWI). They have a daughter, Michele.

. Graduated from the UWI, Mona campus in 1966 with a Bachelor’s degree in History. He subsequently obtained a post-graduate Diploma in International Relations from the Institute of Internal Relations, UWI, St Augustine, and the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in History from Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.

. Began his career as a teacher at Rusea’s High School where he taught from 1961-1963.

. Served as Professor of History at State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego; Adjunct Professor of Caribbean Studies at SUNY, Albany, and Professor of American Studies at SUNY, Old Westbury between 1973 and 1994.

. Returned to the Caribbean to work in 1994, serving in the Caricom Secretariat as deputy secretary-general.

. Appointed pro-vice chancellor/principal University of the West Indies in 1996.

. Chairman Caribbean Examinations Council in 2003.

. Conferral of the Order of Jamaica in 2004.

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