Due to inclement weather, the venue for this year’s Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards has been changed to the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston.

The ceremony is scheduled to start at 9:00 am, and award recipients are asked to arrive at the venue at 7:30 am. All guests attending the function should be seated by 8:00 am for the Official Arrivals commencing at 8:30 a.m.

Two hundred and thirty-two Jamaicans will be officially recognised for their contribution to nation-building, during the National Heroes Day Ceremony on Monday, October 21.

Professor Wendel Dwight Abel, OD, JP, who will receive the Order of Jamaica (OJ) for his contribution to Psychiatry, particularly in mental and community health, heads the list of honourees.

Other OJ recipients are Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, CD, MP; Minister of National Security and Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Horace Anthony Chang, CD, MP; Businessman, Gary Craig ‘Butch’ Hendrickson, CD, JP; Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Patrice Marks; former Custos of Clarendon, William Leon ‘Billy’ Shagoury, CD, JP; Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) Chairman, Lyttleton Ovel ‘Tanny’ Shirley, CD; and Chief Executive Officer of the GraceKennedy Group, Senator Donald George Wehby, CD.

Thirty persons will be conferred with the Order of Distinction (in the rank of Commander [CD]; 38, the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer [OD]; two civilians to receive the Badge of Honour for Gallantry {BH(G)}; 35, the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service {BH(M)}; and 35, the Badge of Honour for Long and Faithful Service. 

The Badge of Honour for Gallantry on the Civil Honours List will be awarded to two individuals who demonstrated remarkable courage by helping those in life-threatening situations—the Right Reverend Professor Randolph Alphanso Henry and Jermaine Ricardo Hurst.

The late Constable Ricardo Nicolas Fairclough of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) will receive the Medal of Honour for Gallantry, posthumously. Constable Fairclough lost his life after bravely confronting an armed gunman during a shootout, selflessly working to save the life of a vendor in St Ann. The Medal of Honour is awarded to members of the uniformed services for acts of gallantry, heroism, or extraordinary courage in perilous situations.

Several members of the uniformed groups will be awarded the Medal of Honour for Meritorious Service—six from the Jamaica Defence Force, 26 members of the JCF, 27 from the Department of Correctional Services and 24 from the Jamaica Fire Brigade.

The ceremony will be presided over by Governor-General and Chancellor of the Orders of the Societies of Honour, His Excellency The Most Hon Sir Patrick Allen, and will be streamed live on the JIS website at www.jis.gov.jm.