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The man who will be Jamaica's sixth Governor General since Independence, 58-year-old Dr. Patrick Linton Allen, is an educator and pastor.
He rose to prominence in the local and regional Seventh Day Adventist church community over the course of more than three decades.
For the man who hails from the humble farming community of Fruitful Vale in Portland, it has been a long journey to Governor General in waiting.
Barely out of his teens, Patrick Allen enrolled in the Moneague Teacher's College at 17, heading straight for the classroom after graduation.
He taught for three years in St. Mary, before being appointed Principal of Robins Bay Primary in the parish in 1976.
Two years later, he became Principal of the Hillside Primary School.
A devout Adventist, Dr. Allen is said to have felt the urge to serve the church from as early as age 11, a call which he eventually heeded in 1980 when he entered Andrews University in Michigan, USA.
He attained a Bachelor's degree in History and Religion before pursuing a Master's degree in Systematic Theology.
Dr. Allen returned to Jamaica in 1986 and was formally ordained as a Seventh Day Adventist pastor three years later.
He served as pastor of the Spanish Town Seventh Day Adventist Church before returning to Andrews University in 1996 to read for his Doctorate in Education Administration.
Upon his return to Jamaica in 1998, he was elected President of the Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh Day Adventists and in 2000, President of the West Indies Union of Seventh Day Adventists.
He was re-elected President in 2005.
Dr. Allen now serves as Chairman of the Board of Governors of Northern Caribbean University.
He was made a Commander of the Order of Distinction in 2006.
Dr. Allen has been married to wife Denise for 33 years, has three children and three grandchildren.
In the meantime, the Adventist community is ecstatic that one of their number will be the next representative of the Queen in Jamaica.
Director of the East Jamaica Conference of Seventh Day Adventists, Pastor Linton Williams was elated at the news that Dr. Allen would be the next Governor General.
"Well Dr. Allen is one of our best leaders...he is a man of vision, action, he is a very good planner and he executes his duties well,"
When questioned about Dr. Allen's prominence in the Seventh Day Church clashing with his role as Governor General, Pastor Williams said he does not think it will be an issue.
"No I don't think there would be any conflict. Dr. Allen is a very wise person and I am sure that there will be no conflict in his duties to his country and to the church. He is very committed to the church he is very committed to the state," said Pastor Williams.
As Governor General, Dr. Allen will be required to relinquish his active posts in the church.
http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/14842/26/
He rose to prominence in the local and regional Seventh Day Adventist church community over the course of more than three decades.
For the man who hails from the humble farming community of Fruitful Vale in Portland, it has been a long journey to Governor General in waiting.
Barely out of his teens, Patrick Allen enrolled in the Moneague Teacher's College at 17, heading straight for the classroom after graduation.
He taught for three years in St. Mary, before being appointed Principal of Robins Bay Primary in the parish in 1976.
Two years later, he became Principal of the Hillside Primary School.
A devout Adventist, Dr. Allen is said to have felt the urge to serve the church from as early as age 11, a call which he eventually heeded in 1980 when he entered Andrews University in Michigan, USA.
He attained a Bachelor's degree in History and Religion before pursuing a Master's degree in Systematic Theology.
Dr. Allen returned to Jamaica in 1986 and was formally ordained as a Seventh Day Adventist pastor three years later.
He served as pastor of the Spanish Town Seventh Day Adventist Church before returning to Andrews University in 1996 to read for his Doctorate in Education Administration.
Upon his return to Jamaica in 1998, he was elected President of the Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh Day Adventists and in 2000, President of the West Indies Union of Seventh Day Adventists.
He was re-elected President in 2005.
Dr. Allen now serves as Chairman of the Board of Governors of Northern Caribbean University.
He was made a Commander of the Order of Distinction in 2006.
Dr. Allen has been married to wife Denise for 33 years, has three children and three grandchildren.
In the meantime, the Adventist community is ecstatic that one of their number will be the next representative of the Queen in Jamaica.
Director of the East Jamaica Conference of Seventh Day Adventists, Pastor Linton Williams was elated at the news that Dr. Allen would be the next Governor General.
"Well Dr. Allen is one of our best leaders...he is a man of vision, action, he is a very good planner and he executes his duties well,"
When questioned about Dr. Allen's prominence in the Seventh Day Church clashing with his role as Governor General, Pastor Williams said he does not think it will be an issue.
"No I don't think there would be any conflict. Dr. Allen is a very wise person and I am sure that there will be no conflict in his duties to his country and to the church. He is very committed to the church he is very committed to the state," said Pastor Williams.
As Governor General, Dr. Allen will be required to relinquish his active posts in the church.
http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/14842/26/
or a Custos will have to represent him.
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