Governor-General, Professor Kenneth Hall, makes his way to the platform with his wife, Mrs. Rheima Hall, at his swearing-in ceremony at King's House, St. Andrew, last year. - file

GOVERNOR-GENERAL Professor Kenneth Hall is to be knighted soon, according to information out of Jamaica House.

"Prime Minister Bruce Golding said that the Government made the recommendation for the knighthood in keeping with the practice of his predecessors," Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange told The Gleaner last night.

Buckingham Palace will gazette the award on November 6, but the Government can now go ahead and give the title of 'Sir' to Professor Hall. His wife will be referred to as Lady Hall.

According to Ms. Grange, a letter from British High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell to Prime Minister Golding said, in part:

"I have confirmed with Buckingham Palace that the Jamaican Government should feel free to announce the award of the knighthood of the Governor-General.

"The Queen has formally approved the formal submission recommending the award," the letter said.

Fully valid

"I understand that the Central Chancery of the Order of Knighthood will formally gazette the award on November 6, along with other awards. But this should not inhibit the Jamaican Government from announcing the award with immediate effect.

"It does not require the physical act by The Queen or her chosen representative for it to be fully valid," Cresswell's letter to Golding said.

Professor Hall was sworn in as Jamaica's fifth Governor-General on February 15, 2006. He succeeded Sir Howard Cooke, who spent 15 years as Governor-General.

Sir Howard was installed as Governor-General in August 1991, and was conferred with the knighthood later that year.