Dr Herbert Thompson, President, NCU

We have no doubt that he can provide that moral vision and it would be our pleasure to fall in line and support in any way we can to help bring our country back.

We need to pull back on issues of morality and conscience and I think it is a glorious thing.

Dr Allen's religious affiliation should not interfere with his role as governor general.

In the meantime, Sir Kenneth is to be commended for highlighting the positives of the nation during his less than three years as governor general and for emphasising the development of the nation's human and natural resources. I expect Dr Allen to continue that work.

Rev Peter Garth, Jamaica Association of Evangelicals

Dr Allen is a person of integrity and good character and he is competent.

Allen's leadership would bring the moral vision the country needs to steer through these rough times.

I can say very freely that he will not be a governor general who happens to be Christian but a Christian who happens to be a governor general.

The current governor general, Sir Kenneth Hall, showed good judgement during rough times. He was discreet in the things that he would do.

Richard 'Dickie' Crawford, lecturer, Political analyst

When Sir Kenneth was appointed governor general, people believed it was two or three others vying for the post who would have got it.

His resignation has come suddenly, as few knew of his illness.

He said from early that he was not prone to be a public man.

Aside from the row between the Public Service Commission and Prime Minister Bruce Golding in late 2007, in which he became involved as governor general, Hall kept away from controversy.

Unlike other governors general, he was not prone to speak on social topics and economic and political issues. To my mind, that could have been a weakness. He could have made more timely intervention on a number of issues, particularly crime.

I welcome the appointment of a church leader to the position, but for someone who is so well established in the church, will that bring any different bearing on his role as governor general?