182 Persons Honoured at King’s House

One hundred and eighty-two Jamaicans were invested with national honours by Governor-General the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen at the National Honours and Awards Investiture Ceremony held at King’s House on Heroes Day (Monday, October 17, 2016).  Members of the judiciary, public service, foreign service, the private sector and the media and entertainment fraternity were among those invested with national honours.   

 

Heading the list of honorees was former parliamentarian Dr. Kenneth Baugh who received the Order of Jamaica for his distinguished service to Parliament and the Public Service, as well as for his contribution to medicine.  He was joined by Professor Denise Eldemire-Shearer, Professor Renn Holness and Ambassador Anthony Johnson, former High Commissioner to London who were also invested with the Order of Jamaica.  

 

The audience showed their overwhelming appreciation when Sir Patrick Allen presented two civilians with badges of honour for Gallantry.  They are Orlando Brown of Ackee Walk in St. Andrew, who demonstrated bravery when he risked his life to rescue a boy who was being washed away by flood waters in the Sandy Gully in October 2015.  The other civilian awardee was Antini Henderson, a student of Merl Grove High School.  She rescued her mentally challenged sister in January of this year, as fire gutted their home. 

 

Seven members of the security forces and one correctional officer received medals of honour for gallantry.  Woman Constable Crystal Thomas was honoured posthumously for her role in preventing robbers from carrying out acts of criminality against passengers on a bus in July 2015.

 

Awardees who received the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander included the Hon. Mr. Justice Lennox Campbell, Mr. Allan Roy “Mutabaruka” Hope, Clifton Gladstone Hughes, former Governor-General’s Secretary Mr. Geoffrey Madden and noted protocol consultant Merrick Needham.  

 

Among the recipients of the Order of Distinction Officer Class were Mr. Rexton Ralston Fernando “Shabba Ranks” Gordon, Mr. Lachman Ramchandani, Mrs. Diana McCaulay, Ms. Patricia Rodney Evering and Mr. Michael Gordon who was awarded for his outstanding service in the field of photojournalism.

 

Individuals were also honoured posthumously for distinguished national service.  Among them are William Alexander “Bunny Rugs” Clark and Gregory Anthony Isaacs for Outstanding Contribution to the Jamaican Music Industry locally and internationally.  Former Gleaner journalists Glenroy Sinclair and Gary Spaulding were posthumously honoured with the Order of Distinction Officer Class for their distinguished service in the field of Journalism.