Little did Antoinette Aiken know that being a child of deaf adults (CODA) would ignite a passion to represent the deaf community in Jamaica and for inclusivity in everyday life. Nor did she know that her work with the deaf community would lead to her receiving a National Award. Ms. Aiken was awarded the Order of Distinction in the rank...

Director for the Mount Olivet Boys’ Home in Manchester, Patrick Newman’s passion for working with boys and young men, deemed at risk, as also children in State care is driven by his philosophy to “leave the world a better place than how I came and saw it”. Mr. Newman is among the hundreds of Jamaicans who will be recognized on...

Jamaica’s goal-scoring phenomenon, Reggae Girl - Khadija Shaw, who has created history by becoming the first national female football player to be honoured with a National Award, aspires towards achieving as much as she can for as long as is possible. At just age 23, the international footballer, who has already earned the unprecedented distinction of being Jamaica’s all-time leading...

Although former President and Distinguished Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica (ICAJ), Donald Reynolds, has earned a National Award for stellar work in the field of accounting and significant contribution to public and private sector development in Jamaica, it is his passion for working with the youth that brings him the greatest joy. The accomplished retired accountant...

Twenty-four years ago, Deon Hemmings McCatty, etched her name in the annals of track and field history when she became the first Jamaican and Caribbean woman to cop an Olympic Gold Medal, after winning the 400 Metres women’s hurdles final at the 1996 Atlanta Games. For this and other outstanding feats on the track as well as her overall contribution...

Retired Vice Principal of Tivoli Gardens High School in Kingston, Paul Alphanso Napier, has been recognised for 40 years of dedicated service to the education sector. The Government has honoured him with the national award, Order of Distinction (OD), in the Rank of Officer, Mr. Napier, who lost his 92-year-old mother last year, tells JIS News that his mother would...

Allasandra Chung, affectionately called “Sandy” is a stalwart in tourism and community development. For more than 27 years, she has worked on projects aimed at improving the local tourism product while providing opportunities for citizens to earn, and raising funds to support national Labour Day projects. On National Heroes Day, October 21, Ms. Chung was awarded the Order of Distinction...

Growing up in a family that volunteered its time and service to the parish of St Elizabeth made it easy for Reverend Paul Neil, as a teenager, to decide that he wanted to give back to his community. For his more than 40 years of dedicated service to religion and community service, Rev. Neil was recognised for his contribution to...

Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Audley Gordon, was among 215 Jamaicans conferred with national honours on Monday (October 21) for service to the nation. He was presented with the Order of Distinction (OD) in the Rank of Officer for 25 years of service to the nation’s correctional facilities. As a devoted Christian, Mr. Gordon has...