The Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) regrets the recent passing of Dr Marshall Hall, OJ, CD and pays tribute to his tremendous life and work.

Dr Hall was a renowned economist and titan of business. More importantly, he was a son of Jamaica and dedicated much of his life to its development through academia and enterprise.

Among his most notable posts is an extensive tenure at Jamaica Producers Group (JPG) where he served as a director for four decades and managing director for 27 years. His vision at JPG led to the rise of Jamaica’s banana export industry through large-scale production and distribution of the fruit through a partnership with the Government of Jamaica and Fyffes Plc.

At the time of his passing, Dr Hall was a director of Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL) where his son, Jeffrey Hall, is chairman. His extraordinary contributions to KWL aided the development of the terminal operator and positively impacted the Port of Kingston’s growth. His impact on the shipping and logistics industry extended further with sterling service to the region’s youth as a member of the Caribbean Maritime University Council.

His outstanding career in academia spanned roles in Jamaica, the United States of America and Uganda where he served as a professor and dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of the West Indies, Mona; professor at the University of Wisconsin, Washington University in Missouri; and professor at Makerere University, respectively.

Dr Hall was a former executive chairman of the Jamaica Public Service Company and chairman of the Jamaica Development Bank and the National Commercial Bank. His remarkable record of public service includes being a consultant to the Government of Jamaica and roles on the boards of the Police Service Commission, Police Civilian Oversight Authority, and the Caribbean Policy Research Institute.

For his brilliant contributions to the nation, Dr Hall was inducted into the Private Sector of Jamaica’s Hall of Fame in 2004 and honoured with the Order of Jamaica for service to the public and the fields of agriculture, industry, and education in 2010.

The SAJ, its Managing Committee, Staff and members express sincere condolences to Dr Hall’s family, friends and loved ones.