140 FOR NATIONAL HONOURS

(The National Honours and Awards Act — 1969)

OUTGOING BANK of Jamaica Governor Richard Byles is among seven Jamaicans who have been appointed to the Order of Jamaica (OJ) and will join 139 other nationals journeying to King’s House in October for recognition at the National Honours and Awards Ceremony.

Joining Byles in the OJ are philanthropist Donette Chin-loy Chang; Cabinet minister Daryl Vaz; former parliamentarians Maxine Henry-wilson and Derrick Smith; leader and philanthropist Diana Stewart; and private sector leader Christopher Zacca.

The Government has also named 25 recipients of membership in the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander (CD). Among them is Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis, whose work as the government’s chief auditor has earned recognition locally and praise from colleagues in the profession overseas for her contribution to the field.

She is joined by endocrinologist Dr Evan Dale Able; cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Roger Irvine; diplomat Ambassador Sharon Miller; banking executive Audreytugwell Henry; attorney Milton Samuda; and academic leader Professor Densil Williams.

Among others receiving membership in the CD are veteran broadcaster Donald Toppin, for contribution to broadcasting; Professor Densil Williams, principal of The University of the West Indies, for contribution to academia and international business policy and practice; and Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson, for contribution to Jamaica’s legal system through the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.

A further 41 individuals will receive membership in the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer for achievements spanning journalism, music, tourism, foreign relations, engineering, broadcasting, and philanthropy.

Recipients include journalist and broadcaster Kerlyn Brown, tennis benefactor Karl Hale, reggae artiste Clifford ‘Mr Vegas’ Smith, musician Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith, meteorologist Evan Thompson, tourism stalwart Judith James-watts, and Gary Williams, founder of the non-profit Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO), who is being recognised for service to child protection.

Founded in 1994, COJO is committed to investing in the future of children, supporting childcare institutions, and, since 2012, providing scholarships for state wards pursuing higher education.

“I am deeply humbled and profoundly grateful to be recognised by my country with the Order of Distinction,” williams said.

“This award is not mine alone – it belongs to everyone who has walked this path with me, supported my work, and shared in a vision for the betterment of the children of Jamaica.”

Meanwhile, four persons will receive the Badge of Honour for Gallantry for acts of exceptional courage.

They include Councillor Scean Barnswell and his wife, Danielle Anna-marie Barnswell, for helping to save the life of a six-year-old girl who was abducted from her school in Clarendon on December 9 last year; Susan Annmarie Higgins, for assisting in the capture and handover to police of a man who raped and murdered an eight-yearold girl in Discovery Bay, St Ann; and Robert Anthony Johnson, for saving the lives of several persons trapped in a burning vehicle in Kingston on February 16, 2025.

The awards recognise achievements across virtually every sector of national life, ranging from medicine, education, and public administration to music, sports, religion, law, agriculture, and community service, highlighting the breadth of contributions being made by Jamaicans at home and abroad. On the occasion of the 64th Anniversary of Independence, His Excellency The Governor-general, The Most Honourable Sir Patrick Linton Allen, ON, GCMG, CD, KST.J, acting in accordance with the Regulations made under Section 7 of the National Honours and Awards Act, and on the advice of the Prime Minister, Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP, is pleased to make the following appointments to the Orders of the Societies of Honour and to award the Badge of Honour, with effect from Independence Day, Thursday, the 6th August 2026, in respect of the undermentioned:

ORDER OF JAMAICA Mr Richard Owen BYLES

For exceptional service in the field of Business and Finance

Ms. Donette CHINžLOY CHANG

For contribution to nation building in Jamaica and Canada through her Philanthropic efforts

Mrs Maxine Antoinette HENRY-WILSON, CD

For exceptional Public Service

Mr Derrick Charles SMITH, CD

For exceptional contribution to the Public Service and Community Development

Mrs Diana Sherry STEWART, CD

For exceptional contribution to Private Sector in the area of the Automotive Industry and Philanthropy

Honourable Daryl Wesley Phillip VAZ, MP

For exceptional contribution to the Public Service and Representational Politics

Mr Christopher Wadie ZACCA, CD

For exceptional service to the Private Sector and the National Community ORDER OF DISTINCTION IN THE RANK OF COMMANDER (CD)

Dr Evan Dale ABLE

For contribution to Medicine in the area of Endocrinology

Mr Wilfred Basil Barrington BAGHALOO

For service in the field of Business, Finance and national Development

Mr Stewart Lloyd BECKFORD

For contribution to the Jamaica Fire Brigade and National Public Safety

Mrs Lona Millicent BROWN

For service to the Administrator-general’s of Jamaica

Mr Kevin O’brien CHANG

For contribution to Business Development and Culture

Mr George Sylvester DAVIS

For contribution to Media and Communication

Dr Nicole Patrice DAWKINS-WRIGHT

For service in the field of Emergency Medicine and Healthcare

The Honourable Mrs Justice Georgina Jacqueline FRASER

For service to the Judiciary of Jamaica

The Honourable Mrs Justice Vinette Beverlin GRAHAM ALLEN

For contribution to the development of the Judiciary in Jamaica

Dr Wesley Junior HALL

For contribution to nation building in Jamaica and Canada through his Philanthropic efforts

Dr Roger W. IRVINE

For contribution to the Health Sector as a Medical Doctor specialising in Cardiothoracic Surgery

Mr Robert A. LAWRENCE, JP

For contribution to Banking and Public Service

Mr Kenneth LOSHUSAN

For service in the field of Industry and Commerce Mr Matthew Charles Hendrickson LYN For contribution to sustainable and transformative Agriculture and Economic Development

Mrs Linda MAIR

For contribution to Law, Public Administration, Child Welfare and National Development

Mr Dewitt David MARSTON

For service in the field of Economics and contribution to the development of Monetary and Financial Policies in Jamaica

Mr Howard MCINTOSH

For Contribution to Sports Development

Ambassador Sharon Joyce MILLER

For service in the field of Diplomacy and National Development

ORDER OF DISTINCTION IN THE RANK OF COMMANDER (CD) (cont’d) Mrs Pamela MONROE ELLIS

For service to the Auditor General’s Department of Jamaica

Mr Milton Jefferson SAMUDA

For service in the field of Law and contribution to the development of Civil Society

Ambassador Alison Elizabeth STONE ROOFE

For contribution to the Public Service in the field of National Security, the Foreign Service and Diplomacy

Miss Claudette Antoinette THOMPSON

For contribution to the Legal System of Jamaica through the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution

Mr Donald George Gordon TOPPING

For contribution to the field of Broadcasting

Mrs Audrey TUGWELL HENRY

For service to Banking, Corporate Leadership, Women's Empowerment in National Development

Professor Densil WILLIAMS

For contribution to Academia and International Business Policy and Practice

ORDER OF DISTINCTION IN THE RANK OF OFFICER (OD) Mr Robert Mohamed BACCHUS

For contribution to the field of Engineering and the Construction Industry

Mr Michael Anthony BENNETT

For contribution to the Jamaican Music Industry

Mrs Mexine BISASOR

For service in the field of Culture and Community Service

Mr Alden Sigismund BROWN

For service in the field of Public Service in the area of Trade Unionism

Miss Kerlyn Laurel BROWN

For service in the field of Journalism and Broadcasting

Mr Michael Anthony CARR

For service in the field of Sports, in particular, Athletics

POSTHUMOUS

Mr Wilburn Theodore “Stranger” COLE For contribution to the Development of Jamaican Music

Mr Richard Andrew CREARY

For service in the field of Local Government

Mrs Marsha DOWNER CAMPBELL

For contribution to the Health Sector in the field of Intensive and Post Anaesthetic Care

Professor Evan Windsor DUGGAN

For service in the fields of Information Technology and Tertiary Education

Mr Bevan Hugh “The Duke” EARLE

For contribution to Broadcasting and Community Development in the Jamaican Diaspora of the Southern USA and Tourism Industry Support

Dr Elaine GRANT-BRYAN

For service to the Jamaican Diaspora as the Honorary Consul in Atlanta

Mr Karl HALE

For Philanthropy and Sports (tennis)

Ms Susan Wendy HART

For contribution in Philanthropy and Community Development

Pastor Dr David Charles HENRY

For service in the fields of Religion and Law

Mrs Judith JAMES-WATTS

For dedicated service to the field of Tourism

Mr Michael George JONES

For contribution to Jamaica in the area of Philanthropy

ORDER OF DISTINCTION IN THE RANK OF OFFICER (OD) (cont’d) Mrs Marjorie KENNEDY

For contribution to the Manufacturing, Shipping Industry and Youth Development

Mr Robert LIVINGSTON

For contribution to the Music Industry both locally and Internationally

Mr Thomas Francis Allan MARLEY

For contribution to the development of Bilateral Relations between Jamaica and the Dominican Republic for as Honorary Consul of Jamaica

Mr Fitzroy George MCKENZIE

For contribution to the field of Nursing and to the development of the Jamaica Enrolled Nurses Association Mrs Sandra Vern MILLER-HALL, BH(L) For service in the field of Education and Healthcare

Mrs Jean Patricia MULLINGS

For service in the field of Education

Dr Lascelles George NEWMAN

For Public leadership through the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast and the Inter-students Christian Fellowship

Mrs Claudette POWELL

For service in the field of Healthcare to Jamaica and Jamaicans in the Diaspora

Councillor Donovan SAMUELS

For service in the field of Local Government

Miss Sandra Alecia SAMUELS

For contribution to Breast Cancer Advocacy and Entrepreneurship

Mr Michael Errol SHAW

For service in the field of Banking and the Financial Services Industry

Mr Clifford “Mr Vegas” SMITH

For contribution to the Reggae Music

Mr Earl Stanley “Chinna” SMITH

For contribution to the Music Industry

Mr Audley Wayne THOMPSON

For service in the field of Engineering, specifically in Water Supply Infrastructure

Mr Evan Garfield THOMPSON

For service to Meteorology, Climate Resilience and Public Safety

Mr Dennis Francisco VALDEZ

For distinguished service to Jamaica’s Agricultural Sector

Mr Ronald VERNON

For contribution in the field of Accounting and Youth Development

Ms Cheriese WALCOTT

For Public Service in the area of Land Development Policy through the National Land Agency

Mr Gary WILLIAMS

For Service to the field of Child Protection

Sgt. (Rtd) Peter Xavier “Poppy Man” WILLIAMS

For Community Service, particularly to the welfare of the Veterans of World Wars I and II

Mrs Susan Georgiann WILSON BROOKS, JP

For service in the field of Community Development

Mr John F. VALENTINE

For service to the Building Construction Industry

Reverend Dr Austin George Alphonso WRIGHT

For service in the field of Education

Mrs Blondell Leanora WYNDHAM

For Public Service, in particular, the Jamaica Printing Service Limited

BADGE OF HONOUR FOR GALLANTRY (BH{G}) Mrs Danielle Anna-marie BARNSWELL

For saving the life of a six (6)-year-old girl after she was abducted from her school in Clarendon on December 9, 2025.

Councillor Scean Anthony BARNSWELL

For saving the life of a six (6)-year-old girl after she was abducted from her school in Clarendon on December 9, 2025.

Miss Susan Annmarie HIGGINS

For assisting in the capturing and handing over to the Police a man who raped and murdered an eight (8)-year-old girl in Discovery Bay, St Ann.

Mr Robert Anthony JOHNSON

For saving the lives of several persons trapped in a burning vehicle in Kingston on 16 February 2025.

BADGE OF HONOUR FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE (BH{M})

Dr Colin Anthony ABEL For service in the field of Medicine, in particular, Paediatric Urology and for pioneering work in Liver Transplantation

Bishop Claude Howard BARTON

For service to Religion

Miss Sonya Maria BINNS LAWRENCE

For service in the field of Health and Wellness

Mr Leslie James CARTELL

For Public Service, in particular, to the Office of the Prime Minister

Dr Nagendra Babu CHANDOLU

For service in the field of Medicine and Community Service

Ms Michelle COOPER

For long and Meritorious Service in philanthropy and Education in the diaspora

Miss Anisheka Sudrie Sudanisha CROSDALE

For contribution to Youth Advocacy and Community Development

Mr Herman Constantine ‘Bongo” DAVIS

For contribution to Jamaican Music and Culture

Miss Valrie DAVIS

For Community Service and Volunteerism

Mr Vernon Roy DIXON

For service in the field of Rail Transportation

Ms Jacqueline Claressa ELLIS

For service to Public Health Administration

Ms Shirley Deloris FINDLEY-WILLIS

For Contribution to Gospel Music in Jamaica

Reverend Dr. Noel James GIBBS

For service in the field of Religion

Mr Lennox Radovan GORDON

For contribution to Public Health Care and Emergency Response

Mrs Janet Marjorie HARTLEY- MILWOOD

For contribution to Mortgage Financing and the Housing Sector

Bishop Steve Anthony HEPBURN

For contribution to Religion and Community Service

Mr Anthony L'overture St Aubin JOHNSON

For service to the field of Government Communication

Miss Judith Andrea HUNTER

For service to Government development in the area of Public Relations at the Jamaica Information Service

Mr Oral Donovan LEWIS, JP

For service in the field of Agriculture

Mrs Bernita Agatha LOCKE

For service in the fields of Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations

Mr Lawrence Anthony ‘Dundas” MCDONALD

For service to the field of Entertainment

BADGE OF HONOUR FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE (BH{M}) (cont’d) Mrs Donna Marie MCHUGH

For service to Education and Community Service

Mrs Olive Noelin St. Clare MCPHERSON

For contribution to Trade Unionism and Political Education

Mr Carlyle PALMER

For contribution to the growth of Jamaican Music in the UK through Jet Star Music

Miss Lorna Michelle PALMER

For Public Service, in particular, to the Office of the Public Defender

Mr Joseph Magiltris PARKER

For Philanthropy and Community Service

Mr David Gladstone SANGUINETTI

For service in the field of Sports, in the area of Tennis

Mr Cedric Bretnol SALMON

For service to the Jamaican Foreign Service in the field of Finance and Accounting

Mr Dempsha Augustus THOMPSON

For Public Service in particular the Jamaica Printing Services Limited

Mrs Darcy Dawn TULLOCH-WILLIAMS

For Philanthropy through her work at the Mustard Seed Communities Jamaica

Mr Donald ‘Wally” WALTERS

For contribution to Sports

Mr Roy Anthony WALTERS

For contribution to Radio Broadcasting in the Diaspora and Philanthropy

HONORARY Mr Mirko MILJUS

For contribution to bilateral relations through Consular Service in Serbia as Honorary Consul of Jamaica

BADGE OF HONOUR FOR LONG AND FAITHFUL SERVICE (BH{L}) Mr Nigel Hubert ADAMS

For Thirty-four (34) years of service as a District Constable

Mr Robert Dudley BLAKE

For Forty-six (46) years of service to the Petroleum Industry

Mrs Areta BROOKS

For over Fifty (50) years of service to Education

Mrs Andrea Marie MUMBY BROWN

For over Thirty-eight (38) years of service to the Banking Industry

Miss Sherron Rosalie BRYDSON

For Thirty-three (33) years of service to Forensic Science and Justice Regionally

Mr Michael BRYAN

For Forty (40) years of service to Horticulture in Jamaica

Mr Silvera Alexander CHRISTIE

For Thirty-two (32) years of service as a District Constable

Mrs Sidonie DONALD-DEPASS For Sixty (60) years of service to Nursing Miss Jennifer Rosemarie DOUGLAS

For Thirty-nine (39) years of service to Civil Aviation

Mmss Rose Marie DOWNS

For Thirty-six (36) years of service as a District Constable

Mr Christopher George Constantine FINLAYSON

For Forty-one (41) years of service to Civil Aviation

Mr Michael George Antonio FORRESTER

Foforr Fforty-orty-one (41) years of service to Civil Aviation

Mrs Marcia Elaine FRANCIS

For service to the Office of the Custos Rotulorum of St. James

BADGE OF HONOUR FOR LONG AND FAITHFUL SERVICE (BH{L}) (cont’d) Mr Hugh L’ouverture GOLDING

For Forty-three (43) years of service to the Petroleum Industry

Miss Carmen Emmencia GRANT

For Forty-two (42) years of service to the Electoral Office of Jamaica

Mr Renard Socliff HENRY

For Forty-three (43) years of service to Veterans Welfare

Mr James Anthony HEWELL

For Forty-four (44) years of service to the National Housing Trust

Mr Norman Anthony HUGGINS

For Thirty-eight (38) years of service to Tax Administration Jamaica

Mrs Yvonne Norma Del JACKSON

For Sixty (60) years of service to Pharmaceutical services

Mrs Sophia Lorraine LEVY

For Thirty-seven (37) years of service to the Administrator General Department

Mrs Beverley MCDONALD

For Fifty (50) years of service to the Estate Management Division, National Land Agency

Mrs Beverley Primrose MCLAREN

For Forty-six (46) years of Service to Education

Mr Ron Conrod MCLEAN

For Thirty-six (36) years of service as a District Constable

Mr Trevor Lynch MITCHELL

For over Forty (40) years of service to Rail Transportation

Mrs Iredell RATTRAY

For fifty-four(54) years of service to Community Development

Miss Rena Marie ROSE

For Thirty-eight (38) years of service to Rail Transportation

Miss Myda TRAIL

For over Forty (40) years of service to Midwifery

Reverend Lascelles Standford TULLOCH

For over Forty (40) years of service to Community Development

Miss Marcia WILLIAMS

For Forty (40) years of service to Pharmaceutical services

Miss Sandra Genieve WILLIAMS

For Forty-seven (47) years of service to the Electoral Office of Jamaica