With just a few days to go before his retirement, Governor-General the Most Honourable Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, is expressing gratitude and appreciation to Jamaicans for their support and encouragement during his tenure as Head of State.
Sir Kenneth Hall who retires on February 26, 2009 after serving for three years as Governor-General, said he and Lady Hall were always encouraged by the kind words, generosity of spirit and unwavering support they received from Jamaicans of all walks of life.
Professor Sir Kenneth Hall was installed as Governor-General on February 15, 2006 and became the fifth person to serve in that position since independence. At his inauguration, Sir Kenneth highlighted youth development and the forging of a national consensus in building social capital, as being among the primary areas that would be emphasized under his leadership.
Among his early achievements was the introduction of the Governor-General’s Youth Award of Excellence to complement Governor-General’s Achievement Award Scheme started by his predecessor. The award was initiated in order to recognize and commemorate the outstanding achievements of youth and promote the pursuit of excellence as a habit among young people.
An abiding principle of Their Excellencies the Governor-General and Lady Hall, is that the fundamental values of honesty, respect, hard work and discipline, are key ingredients for the restoration of the social fabric of the Jamaica society.
The Governor-General has also expressed the view that education and training and support for indigenous institutions, can play a major role in helping to build capacity in the Jamaica economy and prepare it to emerge successful.
During a visit to the island last week, King Juan Carlos 1 of Spain bestowed the Collar of the Order of the Civil Merit of Spain and the Great Cross of the Order of the Civil Merit of Spain upon their Excellencies Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Hall respectively.