Franz Hall assumes appointment as Jamaica’s new Consul General to Miami

MIAMI – Jamaica’s newly appointed Consul General to Miami, Franz N. Hall assumed his position on Thursday, October 3, 2013 at the Consulate in downtown Miami. He will be responsible for consular affairs in 13 States of the Southern USA, as well as Bahamas and the Cayman Islands.

Mr. Hall succeeds Mrs. Sandra Grant Griffiths who has been appointed Ambassador designate to the United Mexican States.

Hon. Franz Hall
A career diplomat, Mr. Hall has more than twenty (20) years experience in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, having served in Jamaican missions in Geneva, New York and Washington, D.C., in the positions of Minister-Counsellor for Trade at the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, D.C.; Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of Jamaica, New York; and Counsellor in the Permanent Mission of Jamaica, Geneva, among other appointments in the Foreign Service. He has also served as Interim Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the Organization of American States.

The Consul General brings to the position a wealth of knowledge in the area of trade having served in the Ministry’s Trade division, most recently as the Acting Head of the Trade Agreements Implementation Coordination Unit, which oversees the implementation of Jamaica’s commitments under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas in relation to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), and the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement.

With the vast experience garnered from serving in Jamaica’s Foreign Service, Mr. Hall will no doubt continue to represent Jamaica with distinction in his new post.

As he prepares himself to undertake his responsibilities, Mr. Hall has expressed an interest in continuing engagement in all areas relevant to Jamaica’s national interest and economic development. In addition, he intends to continue working with, and in support of efforts that would be beneficial to the development of the Diaspora which he reiterated as “a vital community of support for their families in Jamaica.”

With an avid interest in the arts, Mr. Hall spoke of Jamaica’s rich cultural heritage “imbued with unmatched creativity, talent and skill,” while, at the same time, calling on nationals to bring these attributes to bear on the challenges now facing Jamaica. Working in the spirit of unity, Mr. Hall pointed out that “we can achieve the ideals embodied in the words – Jamaica, the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.”

Mr. Hall holds a Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations from City College of New York, and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in International Relations from the University of the West Indies (Mona). He is also a graduate of the prestigious Jamaica College (JC) in Kingston.