Staff WriterA total of 153 outstanding Jamaicans, who have contributed to nation building, will be recognised at the National Honours and Awards ceremony on National Heroes’ Day, Monday, October 17.
The annual ceremony, slated to begin at 8:30 a.m. on the lawns of King’s House, will also acknowledge the contribution of one foreign national for advancing the country’s cause in a significant way.
The Order of Jamaica (OJ), the nation’s fourth highest honour, will go to six nationals, who have given distinguished service in various fields.
They are: Dr. Gladstone Raymond Chang, for contribution as a business leader and philanthropist in the financial, health, education and cultural sectors; Hugh Hart, for service to the bauxite and alumina industry and the legal profession; Peter Moses, for service to the private and public sectors and community development; Frank Phipps, for contribution to the legal profession; Molly Rhone, for service in sports administration; and Ambassador Douglas Saunders, for contribution to the public service.
Former Children’s Advocate, Mary Clarke, who has done outstanding work in advancing the rights and interests of Jamaica’s children, is among 26 persons, who will be conferred with the Order of Distinction, Commander Class (CD).
Other awardees in this category include : Vice-chairman of the National Road Safety Council, Dr. Lucien Jones, for contribution to road safety;Professor Patrick Bryan for contribution to academia; Jean Anderson, for dedicated community service; Morin Seymour, for service to education and community development; and Dennis Emmanuel Brown, who would be posthumously recognised for his contribution to the music industry.
Head of the Delegation of European Union (EU) in Jamaica, Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni, will receive an honorary CD,for his contribution to Jamaica’s economic and social development through the promotion of the country’s interests in the EU.
Meanwhile, 26 other persons will receive the Order of Distinction, Officer Class (OD) for their outstanding work in the areas of community service, journalism, music, medicine, agriculture, education, industry and commerce, public service, sports development, law enforcement and defence, and the foreign services.
Two brave Jamaicans will be conferred with the badge of Honour for Gallantry (BGH), one posthumously, for courageous effort in saving or attempting to save the lives of others. They are Anthony Johnson, who brought an unmanned truck to a stop, saving the lives of a number of bystanders and motorists on
March 10, 2010; and Ralston David White, who died in Canada in September 2010, while attempting to save the life of a co-worker, who had fallen into a large vat of apple cider.
In addition, 17 others will receive the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service for contribution to education, community service, public service, agriculture, religion, health, tourism and assisting the indigent; while 23 persons will receive the Badge of Honour for Long and Faithful Service.
Three Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldiers, one posthumously, will receive the Medal of Honour for Gallantry for bravery in the face of hostile gunfire during the joint military/police operation in West Kingston in May 2010, while 50 uniformed personnel will be recognised with the Medal of Honour for Meritorious Service.
These include 19 officers from the JDF; 15 from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF); nine from the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) and seven from the Jamaica Fire Brigade.
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