Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall (centre) breaks ground for the expansion of the Worthington campus at the University College of the Caribbean (UCC) yesterday. Joining him are (from left) Ryland Campbell, chairman of Capital and Credit Merchant Bank; Winston Adams, president of UCC; Geraldine Adams, UCC's chief executive officer; and Dr Velma Brown-Hamilton, a board member. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall yesterday ended his three-year occupancy at King's House in St Andrew. Staff at the official residence for the proxy head of state told The Gleaner that the Hall family vacated the premises yesterday morning.

Hall will, however, officially end his term as Jamaica's fifth governor general on Thursday when his successor, Dr Patrick Allen, is sworn in.

The parched lawns of the sprawling premises were buzzing with activity yesterday afternoon as members of the Jamaica Defence Force commenced preparations for the highly anticipated swearing-in ceremony.

Second-youngest GG

Several other workers could also be seen bustling about the property as they worked to set up the stage, lighting and other logistics for Thursday.

Allen, the second-youngest man to assume the governor generalship, was selected to replace Hall, who retired because of health reasons.

The selection, however, was met with much scrutiny because of Allen's religious persuasion. The former president of the West Indies Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists has pastored more than 20 Adventist churches.

Allen was said to be moving in last night but up to press time that could not be confirmed.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com